John Oates
Encyclopedia
John William Oates 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 co-founder/lead vocalist/songwriter/occasional instrumentalist Daryl Hall
).
Though he was a primarily a guitarist he also co-wrote several songs including: "Sara Smile
" (with Daryl Hall - a song that refers to Hall's then-girlfriend, Sara Allen), "You Make My Dreams
" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "She's Gone" (with Daryl Hall), "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "Maneater
" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "Out of Touch
" (with Daryl Hall), and "Adult Education
" (with Daryl Hall & Sara Allen). He also sang lead vocals and has written or co-written a few less popular singles that did not make it to the Billboard
's 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" (with Sara Allen & Daryl 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.
, and attended North Penn High School
in suburban Philadelphia. He was married to Aimee Oates, and his son Tanner John Oates was born on June 19, 1996.
In 1966 he recorded his first single, "I Need Your Love," with The Masters for Philadelphia-based Crimson Records
. 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. 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.
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.
As reported by Billboard, Oates will be starring in an animated series called J.Stache created by Evan Duby at Primary Wave Music Publishing.
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
.
Oates came out and played with moe.
at the Belly Up Tavern in Aspen on February 3, 2011. Oates also came out and played with Umphrey's Mcgee
in Aspen on February 9 and 10, 2011, and again in the early hours of June 5, 2011 at Mountain Jam in Hunter, New York.
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.
Hall & Oates
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, R&B and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
best known as half of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
duo Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
(with co-founder/lead vocalist/songwriter/occasional instrumentalist Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
).
Though he was a primarily a guitarist he also co-wrote several songs including: "Sara Smile
Sara Smile
Country music singer Jimmy Wayne released a cover version in 2009, with backing vocals from Hall & Oates. This version debuted at #51 on the Hot Country Songs chart dated October 3, 2009 and serves as the title track for Wayne's third album, Sara Smile...
" (with Daryl Hall - a song that refers to Hall's then-girlfriend, Sara Allen), "You Make My Dreams
You Make My Dreams
"You Make My Dreams" is a 1980 single by Hall & Oates from their album Voices. The song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1981...
" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "She's Gone" (with Daryl Hall), "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)
I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)
"I Can't Go for That " is a 1981 song recorded by Daryl Hall and John Oates.It was the fourth number-one hit single of their career on the Billboard Hot 100 and the second hit single from their album Private Eyes...
" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "Maneater
Maneater
-Music:* "Maneater" , a 1982 single by Daryl Hall and John Oates* "Maneater" , a 2006 single by Nelly Furtado-Film and television:* Maneater , a 2007 U.S...
" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "Out of Touch
Out of Touch
"Out of Touch" is a 1984 song by Hall & Oates. This lead single from their 1984 album Big Bam Boom was their last Billboard Hot 100 number one, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in December 1984...
" (with Daryl Hall), and "Adult Education
Adult education
Adult education is the practice of teaching and educating adults. Adult education takes place in the workplace, through 'extension' school or 'school of continuing education' . Other learning places include folk high schools, community colleges, and lifelong learning centers...
" (with Daryl Hall & Sara Allen). He also sang lead vocals and has written or co-written a few less popular singles that did not make it to the Billboard
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
's 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
The Righteous Brothers
The Righteous Brothers were the musical duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. They recorded from 1963 through 1975, and continued to perform until Hatfield's death in 2003...
and written by Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
, Barry Mann
Barry Mann
Barry Mann is an American songwriter, and part of a successful songwriting partnership with his wife, Cynthia Weil.-Career:...
& Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil
Cynthia Weil is a prominent American songwriter. She is famous for having written many songs together with her husband Barry Mann....
, on which he shared lead vocals with Hall) and "Possession Obsession" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall). In addition to his work with Hall, Oates co-wrote and sang back-up on the song "Electric Blue
Electric Blue (song)
"Electric Blue" is a 1987 hit single by the Australian rock / synthpop band Icehouse and was co-written by Iva Davies of Icehouse and John Oates of the U.S. band Hall & Oates. The single reached number one on the Australian singles chart on 16 November 1987, number seven on the American Billboard...
" by the band Icehouse
Icehouse (band)
Icehouse is an Australian rock band, formed as Flowers in 1977 in Sydney. Initially known in Australia for their pub rock style, they later achieved mainstream success playing new wave and synthpop style music and attained Top Ten singles chart success in both Europe and the U.S...
which was a Billboard Top Ten hit.
Life and career
Oates was born in New York City, New York. He was raised in Philadelphia's suburb of North Wales, PennsylvaniaNorth Wales, Pennsylvania
North Wales is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and is one of the three historic population centers that make up the North Penn Valley...
, and attended North Penn High School
North Penn High School
North Penn High School is a part of the North Penn School District and is located in Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania, about a mile outside of Lansdale borough, 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia, along Valley Forge Road . It operates under the Principal Burton T. Hynes and the school colors are...
in suburban Philadelphia. He was married to Aimee Oates, and his son Tanner John Oates was born on June 19, 1996.
In 1966 he recorded his first single, "I Need Your Love," with The Masters for Philadelphia-based Crimson Records
Crimson Records
Crimson Records was a reissue record label founded by Jerry Greene in the early 1960s, and was a sister label of Lost Nite Records. Disc jockey Jerry Blavat was a co-owner of the label until the late 1960s. The label was known for releasing rare and hard-to-find doo-wop and R&B records. During...
. After finishing high school in 1967, John attended Temple University
Temple University
Temple University is a comprehensive public research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Originally founded in 1884 by Dr. Russell Conwell, Temple University is among the nation's largest providers of professional education and prepares the largest body of professional...
in Philadelphia. It was there that he met Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall
Daryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
, 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
Hall & Oates
Hall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
, they were signed by Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
in 1972. 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
Live Aid
Live Aid was a dual-venue concert that was held on 13 July 1985. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for relief of the ongoing Ethiopian famine. Billed as the "global jukebox", the event was held simultaneously in Wembley Stadium in London, England, United Kingdom ...
concert and the ground-breaking We Are The World
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album 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
Gym Class Heroes
Gym Class Heroes is an American hip hop rock band from Geneva, New York. They have collaborated with Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump on numerous occasions, notably for providing backing vocals on the song "Cupid's Chokehold." Stump also produced the majority of their album The Quilt.The group formed...
and The Killers, who have credited and acknowledged H&O's considerable contribution to American music.
Despite 30 years as a chart-topping performer and sought-after producer, Oates did not release a solo album until 2002's Phunk Shui
Phunk Shui
Phunk Shui is a 2002 rock album by John Oates who is best known as being part of the rock & soul duo Hall & Oates. The album was originally released August 20, 2002....
.
Oates took part, along with Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum
Jamie Cullum is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums. Since April 2010, he has been presenting a weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2, broadcast on Tuesdays from 19:00.- Early...
, in the song "Greatest Mistake" by Handsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School
Handsome Boy Modeling School was a collaborative project between renowned hip hop producers Dan the Automator and Prince Paul...
. The song appears on the 2004 album White People
White People
White People is the second and final album by Handsome Boy Modeling School.-Track listing:# "Intro" – 1:08# "If It Wasn't For You" – 4:37...
.
Oates's second solo album, 1000 Miles of Life, was released on August 23, 2008.
As reported by Billboard, Oates will be starring in an animated series called J.Stache created by Evan Duby at Primary Wave Music Publishing.
In March 2010, Oates played with indie rock band The Bird and the Bee
The Bird and the Bee
The Bird and the Bee is an American indie pop musical duo from Los Angeles, California, consisting of musicians Inara George and Greg Kurstin...
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
Aspen, Colorado
The City of Aspen is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimates that the city population was 5,804 in 2005...
.
Oates came out and played with moe.
Moe.
moe. is an American jam band, formed at the University at Buffalo in 1989. The band members are: Rob Derhak , Al Schnier , Chuck Garvey , Vinnie Amico , and Jim Loughlin ....
at the Belly Up Tavern in Aspen on February 3, 2011. Oates also came out and played with Umphrey's Mcgee
Umphrey's McGee
Umphrey's McGee is an American progressive rock jam band based in Chicago whose music is often referred to as "progressive improvisation", or "improg" ....
in Aspen on February 9 and 10, 2011, and again in the early hours of June 5, 2011 at Mountain Jam in Hunter, New York.
On October 1, 2011 Margo Rey
Margo Rey
Margarita Reymundo is a singer-songwriter known professionally as Margo Rey and/or Miss Margo....
charted at #24 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks with the song "Let the Rain", which is co-written by John Oates.
Hall & OatesHall & OatesHall & Oates are an American musical duo composed of Daryl Hall and John Oates. They achieved their greatest fame in the late 1970s and early to mid-1980s. Both sing and play instruments. They specialized in a fusion of rock and roll and rhythm and blues styles, which they dubbed "rock and soul."...
songs featuring John Oates on lead vocal
- “Had I Known You Better Then” from Abandoned LuncheonetteAbandoned LuncheonetteAbandoned Luncheonette is the second album by the American pop music duo Hall & Oates, released in 1973, which combines folk, Philly soul, and acoustic soul....
- “Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)” from Abandoned LuncheonetteAbandoned LuncheonetteAbandoned Luncheonette is the second album by the American pop music duo Hall & Oates, released in 1973, which combines folk, Philly soul, and acoustic soul....
- “I'm Just A Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like A Man)” from Abandoned LuncheonetteAbandoned LuncheonetteAbandoned Luncheonette is the second album by the American pop music duo Hall & Oates, released in 1973, which combines folk, Philly soul, and acoustic soul....
- “Can't Stop The Music (He Played It Much Too Long)” from War BabiesWar BabiesWar Babies is the third album by Hall & Oates, released in 1974, and their last of three albums for Atlantic Records before moving to the RCA label...
- “Camellia” from Daryl Hall & John Oates
- “Alone Too Long” from Daryl Hall & John Oates
- “Back Together Again” from Bigger Than Both of UsBigger Than Both of UsBigger Than Both of Us is the fifth album by Daryl Hall and John Oates, released in 1976. The album included the first of their six #1 singles on Billboard's Hot 100, "Rich Girl"...
- “Crazy Eyes” from Bigger Than Both of UsBigger Than Both of UsBigger Than Both of Us is the fifth album by Daryl Hall and John Oates, released in 1976. The album included the first of their six #1 singles on Billboard's Hot 100, "Rich Girl"...
- “You'll Never Learn” from Bigger Than Both of UsBigger Than Both of UsBigger Than Both of Us is the fifth album by Daryl Hall and John Oates, released in 1976. The album included the first of their six #1 singles on Billboard's Hot 100, "Rich Girl"...
- “The Emptyness” from Beauty on a Back StreetBeauty on a Back StreetBeauty on a Back Street is the sixth studio album by Hall & Oates, released in 1977.This album takes a more rock-oriented approach, similar to War Babies, but more streamlined and polished....
- “Portable Radio” from X-StaticX-StaticX-Static is the eighth studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates, released in November 1979 by RCA Records. X-Static was the duo's eighth album. Buddah Records re-released the album with two bonus tracks in 2000....
- “All You Want Is Heaven” from X-StaticX-StaticX-Static is the eighth studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates, released in November 1979 by RCA Records. X-Static was the duo's eighth album. Buddah Records re-released the album with two bonus tracks in 2000....
- “Bebop/Drop” from X-StaticX-StaticX-Static is the eighth studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates, released in November 1979 by RCA Records. X-Static was the duo's eighth album. Buddah Records re-released the album with two bonus tracks in 2000....
- “How Does It Feel To Be Back” from VoicesVoices (Hall & Oates album)Voices is the title of the ninth studio album by Hall & Oates, released in 1980.-History:The album slowly became a massive hit, spinning off four singles into the top 40 of the American pop charts: "How Does It Feel to Be Back" , "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" , "Kiss on My List" , and "You Make...
- “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" is a 1964 song by The Righteous Brothers which became a number-one hit single in the United States and the United Kingdom the following year. In 1999, the performing-rights organization Broadcast Music, Inc. ranked the song as having had more radio and television...
” from VoicesVoices (Hall & Oates album)Voices is the title of the ninth studio album by Hall & Oates, released in 1980.-History:The album slowly became a massive hit, spinning off four singles into the top 40 of the American pop charts: "How Does It Feel to Be Back" , "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" , "Kiss on My List" , and "You Make... - “Africa” from VoicesVoices (Hall & Oates album)Voices is the title of the ninth studio album by Hall & Oates, released in 1980.-History:The album slowly became a massive hit, spinning off four singles into the top 40 of the American pop charts: "How Does It Feel to Be Back" , "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" , "Kiss on My List" , and "You Make...
- “Mano A Mano” from Private EyesPrivate Eyes (Hall & Oates album)Private Eyes is the tenth studio album from blue-eyed soul duo Daryl Hall and John Oates, released in 1981. A hit, it stands not only as a definitive album for the duo, but as a notable album for the music of the decade, combining pop, rock, R&B and soul genres.The album includes 2 Number one...
- “Italian Girls” from H2OH2O (Hall & Oates album)H2O is the eleventh studio album from Daryl Hall and John Oates, released in 1982. A hit, it featured three top 10 US singles, one being "Maneater", which was the biggest hit of their career, spending four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts...
- “At Tension” from H2OH2O (Hall & Oates album)H2O is the eleventh studio album from Daryl Hall and John Oates, released in 1982. A hit, it featured three top 10 US singles, one being "Maneater", which was the biggest hit of their career, spending four weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts...
- “Jingle Bell RockJingle Bell Rock"Jingle Bell Rock" is the name of a popular Christmas song first released by Bobby Helms in 1957. It has received frequent airplay in the United States during every Christmas time since then. "Jingle Bell Rock" was composed by Joseph Carleton Beal , and James Ross Boothe...
” from 1983 Christmas single (flip-side featured another version with lead vocals by Daryl HallDaryl HallDaryl Hall is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates . Hall scored several Billboard chart hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, and is regarded as one of the best blue eyed soul singers...
) - “Possession Obsession” from Big Bam BoomBig Bam BoomBig Bam Boom was the twelfth studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates, released on RCA late in 1984. It marked the end of one of the most successful album runs by a duo of the 1980s. The album is also considered a record that defines the sound of the 1980s. BMG Heritage released a remastered version...
- “Cold Dark And Yesterday” from Big Bam BoomBig Bam BoomBig Bam Boom was the twelfth studio album by Daryl Hall & John Oates, released on RCA late in 1984. It marked the end of one of the most successful album runs by a duo of the 1980s. The album is also considered a record that defines the sound of the 1980s. BMG Heritage released a remastered version...
Releases
- Phunk ShuiPhunk ShuiPhunk Shui is a 2002 rock album by John Oates who is best known as being part of the rock & soul duo Hall & Oates. The album was originally released August 20, 2002....
(CD that was released multiple times, each adding bonus tracks) - John Oates: Live At The Historic Wheeler Opera HouseJohn Oates: Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera HouseJohn Oates: Live At The Historic Wheeler Opera House is a DVD by John Oates that was released May 4, 2004. It features the band Little Blue and Jed Leiber....
(DVD and bonus live CD) (2004) - John Oates Solo - The Album, The ConcertJohn Oates Solo - The Album, The ConcertJohn Oates Solo - The Album, The Concert is a DualDisc release by John Oates. It features the DVD content of his 2004 release John Oates: Live At The Historic Wheeler Opera House on the DVD side of the DualDisc, and it contains the 14 track version of his 2002 studio album Phunk Shui on the CD...
(DualDiscDualDiscDualDisc was a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including EMI Music, Universal Music Group, Sony/BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America...
: 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)