A native of Beverly Hills, Doheny took his first musical strides as a songwriter. His tune On and On was recorded by Dave Mason and Mama Cass Elliot in 1971, while the Average White Band included A Love of Your Own, written with their lead vocalist Hamish Stuart, on their 1976 album, Soul Searching. Another tune, Whatcha Gonna Do for Me, written with Stuart, was covered by Chaka Kahn in 1981.

The first artist signed to David Geffen's Asylum label, Doheny released his eponymous debut album in 1973. His second album, Hard Candy, released three years later, was produced by Steve Cropper and featured such guests as Tower of Power, Tom Scott, Jim Horn, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt, and J.D. Souther. Although it included Doheny's version of A Love of Your Own, the album failed to sell and Arista dropped his contract. Doheny's third album, Prone, was limited to a Japan-only release in 1979.

Although he was unable to break through commercially in the United States, Doheny later found a welcoming audience after turning his focus to Japan in the late '80s. The host of a popular radio show, Postcards from Hollywood, on FM Yokohama, from April 1990 until September 1993, Doheny gained speed upon releasing 1988's Life After Romance, his first album in nearly a decade. An album of classic tunes performed on solo guitar, named after Doheny's radio show, was released three years later and was followed by the equally impressive Love Like Ours later that year. Between Two Worlds followed in 1993, and a best-of collection was released in 1995. Doheny also performed in Japan in February 1996, as a member of the Jay Graydon Super Band. ~ Craig Harris, Rovi