 john william cummings' (october 8, 1948&nbsp;â september 15, 2004), better known by his stage name johnny ramone, was an american guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the ramones. he was a founding member of the band, and remained a member throughout the band's entire career. he died from prostate cancer on september 15, 2004. in 2003, he appeared on times "10 greatest electric-guitar players". that same year, he was number 16 on the "100 greatest guitarists of all time" list in rolling stone. johnny ramone was 6' 0", 150 lbs when he joined the ramones. >commando (book), 2004 abrams press, p.36 ==career== johnny ramone was born john cummings in long island as the only child of a construction worker, of irish descent. he was raised in the forest hills, queens neighborhood of new york city, where he grew up absorbing rock music.silverman, stephen m. "punk rock legend johnny ramone dies at 55", people, september 16, 2004. accessed june 2, 2009. "johnny ramone, 55, was born john cummings and grew up in forest hills, n.y., soaking up rock in the 1960s but then moving to an edgier sound." as a teenager, johnny played in a band called the tangerine puppets alongside future ramones drummer tamÃ¡s erdÃ©lyi (better known as tommy ramone). as 
1948_births 2004_deaths American_people_of_Irish_descent American_punk_rock_guitarists Burials_at_Hollywood_Forever_Cemetery Cancer_deaths_in_California Deaths_from_prostate_cancer Military_brats New_York_Republicans People_from_Forest_Hills,_Queens Ramones_members Rhythm_guitarists Staunton_Military_Academy_alumni