John Oates
| John Oates | |
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 John Oates in 2009. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | John William Oates |
| Born | April 7, 1949 |
| Origin | New York City, New York, US |
| Genres | Blue-eyed soul, pop rock, rhythm and blues, soul, bluegrass |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar |
| Years active | 1966–present |
| Labels | Atlantic, RCA, Epic, Arista, U-Watch |
| Associated acts | Carly Simon, Hall & Oates |
| Website | www.hallandoates.com |
John William Oates (born April 7, 1949) is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates (with Daryl Hall).
Oates, whose main role in the duo was as guitarist, co-wrote much of their output, including "Sara Smile" (with Daryl Hall - a song that refers to Hall's then-girlfriend, Sara Allen), "You Make My Dreams" (with Allen & Hall), "She's Gone" (with Hall), "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (with Allen & Hall), "Maneater" (with Allen & Hall), "Out of Touch" (with Hall), and "Adult Education" (with Hall & Allen). He also sang lead vocals on several singles that did not make it to the Top 10, such as "How Does It Feel to Be Back", "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" (which was a remake of the 1965 song performed by The Righteous Brothers and written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, on which he shared lead vocals with Hall) and "Possession Obsession" (written with Allen & Hall). In addition to his work with Hall, Oates co-wrote and sang back-up on the song "Electric Blue" by the band Icehouse which was a Billboard Top Ten hit.
Oates was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.[1]
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Life and career [edit]
Oates was born in New York City. His mother, Ann De Palma, was an Italian immigrant originally from Salerno. His father, Al Oates, was of British and Spanish-Moorish heritage. He was raised in Philadelphia's suburb of North Wales, Pennsylvania. He was married to Aimee Oates, and his son Tanner was born in 1996.
In 1966, he recorded his first single, "I Need Your Love," with The Masters for Philadelphia-based Crimson Records.[2] After finishing high school in 1967, John attended Temple University in Philadelphia. It was there that he met Daryl Hall, also a musician and student at Temple, who was already a senior when Oates was a freshman. The two were involved in several college bands, but after forming the duo Hall & Oates, they were signed by Atlantic Records in 1972.[3] 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 ground-breaking We Are The World charity recording established them further as artists. Their influence on modern pop music has been cited by numerous contemporary bands, including Gym Class Heroes and The Killers, who have credited and acknowledged H&O's considerable contribution to American music.
In 1983, Oates was asked whether he regretted not pursuing his degree in journalism. He replied no and admitted never intending to finish it.[4]
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's second solo album, 1000 Miles of Life, was released on August 23, 2008.[5]
As reported by Billboard, Oates will be starring in an animated series called J.Stache created by Evan Duby at Primary Wave Music Publishing.[6]
In March 2010, Oates played with 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.
Oates now lives with his son and wife in Aspen, Colorado.
On October 1, 2011, Margo Rey charted at #24 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks with the song "Let the Rain", which is co-written by John Oates.[7]
On March 11, 2013 John released a new single "Stand Strong" co-written with Teddy Morgan. "Stand Strong" is part of John's newest project "Good Road To Follow", which is a collection of original songs that will be released once a month in a series of digital singles.[8]
Hall & Oates songs featuring John Oates on lead vocal [edit]
- "Southeast City Window" from Whole Oats
- "Thank You For ..." from Whole Oats
- "Lily (Are You Happy)" from Whole Oats
- “Had I Known You Better Then” from Abandoned Luncheonette
- “Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)” from Abandoned Luncheonette
- “I'm Just A Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like A Man)” from Abandoned Luncheonette
- “Can't Stop The Music (He Played It Much Too Long)” from War Babies
- "Is it a Star" from War Babies
- “Camellia” from Daryl Hall & John Oates
- “Alone Too Long” 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
- "Serious Music" from Along the Red Ledge
- "Pleasure Beach" from Along the Red Ledge
- “Portable Radio” from X-Static
- “All You Want Is Heaven” from X-Static
- “Bebop/Drop” from X-Static
- “How Does It Feel To Be Back” from Voices
- “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'” 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" from Ooh Yeah!
- "Keep On Pushin' Love" from Ooh Yeah!
- "Change Of Season" from Change of Season
- "Only Love" from Change of Season
- "Time Won't Pass Me By" from Marigold Sky
- "War of Words" from Marigold Sky
- "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
Releases [edit]
- Phunk Shui (CD that was released multiple times, each adding bonus tracks)
- John Oates: Live At The Historic Wheeler Opera House (DVD and bonus live CD) (2004)
- John Oates Solo - The Album, The Concert (DualDisc: CD side of Phunk Shui (14 track version), DVD side Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera House) (bonus live CD that came with the original above the DVD is not included) (2006)
- 1000 Miles Of Life (2008)
- Mississippi Mile (2011)
- The Bluesville Sessions (2012)
- Good Road To Follow (2013)
References [edit]
- ^ John Oates at the Songwriters Hall of Fame
- ^ "INTERVIEW: Hall & Oates’ John Oates On Playing The Spectrum Tonight | Make Major Moves". Blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com. 2009-10-23. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ "John Oates Biography". Biography.com. 1948-04-07. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ Juke Magazine, 8 November 1982. "Hall and Oats: Water on the Brain" by Allan Webster, page 20
- ^ "John Oates - 1000 Miles Of Life (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. 2008-08-23. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ Up for Discussion Jump to Forums. "Oates, Mustache Make Cartoon Crime-Fighting Team". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
- ^ "Weekly Chart Notes: Mick Jagger, LMFAO, Taylor Swift - Chart Beat - Billboard.com". Billboard. 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
- ^ "Hall & Oates' John Oates Stands Strong with New Americana-Flavored Single".
External links [edit]
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