John Oates

John William Oates (born April 7, 1948) is an American musician, best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates, with Daryl Hall. He has played rock, R&B, and soul music, acting as a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer.

Although Oates' main role in the duo is being the guitarist, he also co-wrote many of the top 10 songs that they recorded, including: "Sara Smile" (referring to Hall's then-girlfriend, Sara Allen), " She's Gone", and "Out of Touch", as well as "You Make My Dreams", "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)", " Maneater", and "Adult Education". He also sang lead vocals on several more singles in the Hot 100, such as "How Does It Feel to Be Back", "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (a remake of the 1965 song performed by the Righteous Brothers), and " Possession Obsession". In 1986, Oates contributed the song "(She's the) Shape of Things to Come" on the soundtrack to the 1986 film '' About Last Night''. He also co-wrote and sang backup on the song " Electric Blue", recorded by the Australian band Icehouse, which was a ''Billboard'' top 10 hit.

Oates was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004, and in 2014 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a member of Daryl Hall & John Oates. His memoir, ''Change of Seasons'', was published in 2017.

Early life

Oates was born in New York City. His mother, Ann De Palma, was an Italian immigrant originally from Salerno. His father, Al Oates, was born to an English father and Gibraltarian mother, who claimed Moroccan heritage. He was raised in North Wales, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia.

Oates attended North Penn High School and was co-captain of the 1965-66 wrestling team his senior year and was Section 2 champion in the weight class. Oates turned down wrestling scholarships and opted to attend Temple University instead because "it was in the city." Oates wrestled as a freshman at Temple and then "got tired of losing weight."

Career

In 1966, he recorded his first single, "I Need Your Love," with the Masters for Philadelphia-based Crimson Records. After graduating from North Penn High School in 1966, John enrolled in Temple University in Philadelphia, where he met Daryl Hall, a senior at Temple who was also a professional musician. The two were involved in several college bands, then formed the duo Hall & Oates, and by 1972, they had signed with Atlantic Records. Hall & Oates went on to record 21 albums (to date), which have sold over 80 million units worldwide, making them arguably the most successful duo in pop–rock history. They have scored ten number-one records and over 20 Top 40 hits and have toured the world for decades. Their involvement in the original Live Aid concert and the charity single "We Are the World", both in 1985, established them further as artists. Their influence on modern American pop music and considerable contributions have been acknowledged by numerous contemporary bands, including Gym Class Heroes and the Killers.

In 1983, Oates was asked whether he regretted not pursuing his degree in journalism. He replied that he did not—and admitted that he had in fact never intended to finish it.

Despite 30 years as a chart-topping performer and sought-after producer, Oates did not release a solo album until 2002's '' Phunk Shui''.

Oates took part, along with Jamie Cullum, in the song "Greatest Mistake" by Handsome Boy Modeling School. The song appears on the 2004 album ''White People''.

Oates' second solo album, ''1000 Miles of Life'', was released on August 23, 2008.

As reported by ''Billboard'' in 2008, Oates was shopping an animated series titled ''J-Stache'', created by Evan Duby at Primary Wave Music Publishing.

In March 2010, Oates played with the indie rock band the Bird and the Bee as a surprise guest. The show was a medley of the Bird and the Bee songs, as well as classic Hall & Oates. The performance was dedicated to H&O bassist T-Bone Wolk who died on February 27, 2010.

On October 1, 2011, Margo Rey charted at #24 on ''Billboard'''s Adult Contemporary Tracks with the song "Let the Rain", which was co-written by Oates.

On March 11, 2013, Oates released a new single, "Stand Strong", which he co-wrote with Teddy Morgan. "Stand Strong" is part of ''Good Road to Follow'', a set of original songs released as digital singles, one after the other. In 2015, Oates released ''Another Good Road'', a DVD and Live CD combination via PS Records / Warner Elektra, which also debuted as a television special on the Palladia music channel. The DVD was shot live in a recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and features rare footage of his home in Woody Creek, Colorado.

His memoir ''Change of Seasons'' was published on March 28, 2017 by St. Martin's Press.

He released an album with his new backing band, "The Good Road Band", titled "Arkansas" on February 2, 2018. Oates commented that the album serves as a connection back to his pre-Hall & Oates music interest of traditional delta, country blues, and ragtime.

Oates has used many instruments and effects throughout his musical career and endorses several manufacturers and brands. Some of the companies endorsed by Oates include, Taylor Guitars, Voyage Air Guitars, Neunaber Audio, LR Baggs, and Fishman.

Personal life

Oates has been married twice. His first wife was Nancy Hunter, a former model. He and his second wife Aimee Oates have a son, Tanner, who was born in 1996. They reside in Woody Creek, Colorado, as well as Nashville, Tennessee. Oates became friends with gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson when he moved to Woody Creek in the late 1980s and the pair maintained a close bond until Thompson's death in 2005.

Hall & Oates songs on which Oates sings lead

* "All Our Love" (co-lead vocal) from ''Whole Oats''
* "Southeast City Window" from ''Whole Oats''
* "Thank You For ..." from ''Whole Oats''
* "Lilly (Are You Happy)" (co-lead vocal) from ''Whole Oats''
* "Had I Known You Better Then" from ''Abandoned Luncheonette''
* "Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)" from ''Abandoned Luncheonette''
* " She's Gone" (co-lead vocal) from ''Abandoned Luncheonette''
* "I'm Just A Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like A Man)" from ''Abandoned Luncheonette''
* "Lady Rain" (co-lead vocal) from ''Abandoned Luncheonette''
* "Can't Stop The Music (He Played It Much Too Long)" from ''War Babies''
* "Is it a Star" (co-lead vocal) from ''War Babies''
* "Johnny Gore and the "C" Eaters" (co-lead vocal) from ''War Babies''
* "Past Times Behind" from "The Atlantic Collection" compilation
* "Camellia" from ''Daryl Hall & John Oates''
* "Alone Too Long" from ''Daryl Hall & John Oates''
* "Ice" from ''Daryl Hall & John Oates''
* "Back Together Again" from '' Bigger Than Both of Us''
* "Crazy Eyes" from ''Bigger Than Both of Us''
* "You'll Never Learn" from ''Bigger Than Both of Us''
* "The Emptyness" from '' Beauty on a Back Street''
* "Love Hurts (Love Heals)" from ''Beauty on a Back Street''
* "The Girl Who Used to Be" from ''Beauty on a Back Street''
* "Melody for a Memory" from '' Along the Red Ledge''
* "Serious Music" from ''Along the Red Ledge''
* "Pleasure Beach" from ''Along the Red Ledge''
* "Portable Radio" (co-lead vocal) from ''X-Static''
* "All You Want Is Heaven" (co-lead vocal) from ''X-Static''
* "Bebop/Drop" from ''X-Static''
* "How Does It Feel To Be Back" from '' Voices''
* "Hard To Be In Love With You" (co-lead vocal) from ''Voices''
* "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" (co-lead vocal) from ''Voices''
* "Africa" from ''Voices''
* "Mano A Mano" from '' Private Eyes''
* "Friday Let Me Down" from ''Private Eyes''
* "Italian Girls" from ''H2O''
* "At Tension" from ''H2O''
* "Jingle Bell Rock" from 1983 Christmas single (flip-side featured another version with lead vocals by Daryl Hall)
* "Possession Obsession" from ''Big Bam Boom''
* "Cold Dark And Yesterday" from ''Big Bam Boom''
* "Rockability" (co-lead vocal) from '' Ooh Yeah!''
* "Keep on Pushin' Love" from ''Ooh Yeah!''
* "Change of Season" (co-lead vocal) from '' Change of Season''
* "Only Love" from ''Change of Season''
* "Starting All Over Again"(co-lead vocal) from ''Change of Season''
* "Time Won't Pass Me By" (co-lead vocal) from '' Marigold Sky''
* "War of Words" from ''Marigold Sky''
* "Someday We'll Know" (co-lead vocal) from '' Do It for Love''
* "Love in a Dangerous Time" from ''Do It for Love''
* "Ooh Child" from ''Our Kind of Soul''
* "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" from ''Our Kind of Soul''
* "No Child Should Ever Cry on Christmas" from '' Home for Christmas''
* "The Christmas Song" from ''Home for Christmas''
* "Don't Go Out" from ''Do What You Want, Be What You Are'' box set
* "All the Way from Philadelphia" (co-lead vocal) from ''Do What You Want, Be What You Are'' box set
* "I Want Someone" (co-lead vocal) from ''Do What You Want, Be What You Are'' box set

Discography

Studio albums

* '' Phunk Shui'' (2002)
* ''1000 Miles of Life'' (2008)
* ''Mississippi Mile'' (2011)
* ''Good Road to Follow'' (2014)
* ''Arkansas'' (2018)

Live albums

* ''Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera House'' (2004)
* ''John Oates Solo – The Album, The Concert'' (2006)
* ''The Bluesville Sessions'' (2012)
* ''Another Good Road'' (2015)
* ''Live in Nashville'' (2020)

References

External links

Official John Oates websiteOfficial website of Hall & Oates
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oates, John
1948 births
American people of English descent
American people of Gibraltarian descent
American people of Italian descent
American male singers
American rock guitarists
American male guitarists
American soul musicians
Singers from New York City
People from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Temple University alumni
Living people
Singers from Pennsylvania
Hall & Oates members
American rhythm and blues singers
IMSA GT Championship drivers
Guitarists from Philadelphia
Guitarists from New York City
20th-century American guitarists
20th-century American male musicians
Thirty Tigers artists