John Oates

John William Oates was born on April 7, 1948, in New York City. He was raised in North Wales, Pennsylvania, and attended North Penn High School, where he was co-captain of the wrestling team. He later turned down college wrestling scholarships to attend Temple University in North Philadelphia. In 1966, he recorded his first single, “I Need Your Love,” with a group called The Masters. While attending Temple University, Oates met Daryl Hall. The two musicians formed the duo Hall & Oates and signed with Atlantic Records by 1972.

Over several decades, Hall & Oates released 21 albums, selling over 80 million units globally. Their career included ten number-one records and more than 20 Top 40 hits. Oates co-wrote many of the duo’s well-known songs, such as “Sara Smile,” “She’s Gone,” “Out of Touch,” “You Make My Dreams,” “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do),” “Maneater,” and “Adult Education.” He also sang lead vocals on singles like “How Does It Feel to Be Back,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” and “Possession Obsession.” In 1985, Hall & Oates participated in the original Live Aid concert and contributed to the charity single “We Are the World.

In 2004, Oates was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2014, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Hall & Oates. His solo career includes albums like 2002’s “Phunk Shui” and 2018’s “Arkansas,” which explored his interest in traditional delta, country blues, and ragtime music. Oates released his memoir, “Change of Seasons,” in 2017. He has also made appearances in television shows such as “The Cleveland Show” and competed on “The Masked Singer” in 2023.