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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).Although Oates's main role in the duo was guitarist, he also co-wrote many of the songs they recorded, including (with Hall): "Sara Smile" (the song refers to Hall's then-girlfriend, Sara Allen), "She's Gone", and "Out of Touch", as well as (with Allen & Hall): "You Make My Dreams", "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)", "Maneater", and "Adult Education".
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" (a remake of the 1965 song performed by The Righteous Brothers and written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil), on which Oates shared lead vocals with Hall, and "Possession Obsession" (with Allen & Hall).
Oates also co-wrote and sang backup on the song "Electric Blue", recorded by the band Icehouse, which was a Billboard Top Ten hit.
He also co-wrote, produced and sang duet with Canadian group The Parachute Club on the 1987 song "Love is Fire" which was a Top 30 hit in Canada.Oates was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.Life and careerOates 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.
After graduating from North Penn High School in 1967, 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 ground-breaking We Are The World charity recording 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'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 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 John Oates.On March 11, 2013, Oates released a new single, "Stand Strong", which he co-wrote with Teddy Morgan.
"Stand Strong" is part of Oates's newest project, "Good Road To Follow", a set of original songs that will be released as digital singles, one after the other.Oates lives with his son and wife in Aspen, Colorado.Hall & Oates songs featuring John Oates on lead vocal"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 ChristmasReleasesPhunk 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)