For today's music history highlight, we remembered Joey Ramone, part of the highly influential New York punk band the Ramones, now considered among rock and roll's all-time greats. 

There's a very visceral element to the Ramones' music; the texture of it seems to reflect the gritty New York origins of the band members. There's something to be said about that New York grit — that resilience — that we've seen come up over and over again, most recently in the wake of the subway shooting in Brooklyn. New Yorkers have an indomitable spirit. As one might expect, it comes through in the music.

So let's celebrate the gritty New York sound in its many forms. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that capture New York grit?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive.

Songs played:
Ramones - Rockaway Beach
Beastie Boys - No Sleep Till Brooklyn
Simon and Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy in NY
Harpers Bizarre - The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
New York Dolls - Personality Crisis
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message
Billy Joel - New York State of Mind
Jay-Z - Empire State Of Mind (feat. Alicia Keys) - bonus track!