Originating from Beverly Hills, Doheny launched his path by writing material for fellow performers. Dave Mason and Mama Cass Elliot cut his song "On and On" in 1971, while the Average White Band placed the Hamish Stuart collaboration "A Love of Your Own" on their 1976 album Soul Searching. Chaka Khan later recorded another Stuart co-write, "Whatcha Gonna Do for Me", in 1981.
Doheny became the first act signed to David Geffen's Asylum label and issued his self-titled debut in 1973. Hard Candy followed three years later, produced by Steve Cropper and featuring Tower of Power, Tom Scott, Jim Horn, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Linda Ronstadt, and J.D. Souther. Even though it contained Doheny's own version of "A Love of Your Own", the album did not achieve sales, prompting Arista to drop him. His third album, Prone, received only a Japan-only release in 1979.
Although commercial breakthrough never arrived in the United States, Doheny built a receptive audience by directing his efforts toward Japan beginning in the late '80s. He hosted the FM Yokohama program Postcards from Hollywood from April 1990 until September 1993, and he resumed recording with the 1988 album Life After Romance, his first in nearly a decade. Three years afterward he released an album of classic songs performed on solo guitar that took its name from the radio show; later that same year came the equally striking Love Like Ours. Between Two Worlds appeared in 1993, followed by a best-of collection in 1995. Doheny also played shows in Japan during February 1996 as part of the Jay Graydon Super Band.
