John Oates

Biography

John William Oates (born April 7, 1948) is an American musician, best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates along with Daryl Hall. He has played rock, R&B, and soul music, serving as a guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer.
Although Oates×OATES29 August 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Enough Is Enough3:482Real Thing Going On3:383Mending3:414A Ways Away3:565Let Me Be the One4:196World Gone Wrong4:457Pushin' a Rock4:358Disconnected4:549Get Your Smile On3:4710Dreaming About Brazil3:4311Bajo la Luz de la Luna3:4312Walking in Memphis2:3413Walking in Memphis - Grabbitz Remix2:44' primary role in the duo was 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×Maneater19 March 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Maneater2:48", 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 Hall & Oates. His memoir, Change of Seasons, was published in 2017.

Early life and education

Oates was born in New York City on April 7, 1948. Oates×OATES29 August 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Enough Is Enough3:482Real Thing Going On3:383Mending3:414A Ways Away3:565Let Me Be the One4:196World Gone Wrong4:457Pushin' a Rock4:358Disconnected4:549Get Your Smile On3:4710Dreaming About Brazil3:4311Bajo la Luz de la Luna3:4312Walking in Memphis2:3413Walking in Memphis - Grabbitz Remix2:44's memoir states his mother was Italian, and his father was a Gibraltarian of mixed background: Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Moorish (Berber and/or Arab). He was raised in North Wales in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
He attended North Penn High School in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, where he was co-captain of the 1965-66 wrestling team his senior year and was Section 2 champion in the 127 lb (58 kg) weight class. Oates turned down college wrestling scholarships and opted to attend Temple University in North Philadelphia instead because "it was in the city." Oates wrestled as a freshman for the Temple Owls and then "got tired of losing weight."

Career

In 1966, Oates recorded his first single, "I Need Your Love", with a group named 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, 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.

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 Shui2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Color of Love3:582It Girl4:093All Good People3:224Love in a Dangerous Time4:265Unspoken3:316Soul Slide3:347Go Deep5:338Little Angel5:039Beauty3:1510Phunk Shui4:3311Electric Ladyland4:0012Mona Lisa's Eyes3:5213Time Will Tell4:1514People Get Ready (live)3:48.
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.

On October 1, 2011, Margo Rey charted at number 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×Stand Strong12 March 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Stand Strong4:09", 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 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 co-written with Chris Epting and 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×Arkansas2018 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Anytime3:052Arkansas4:203My Creole Belle2:144Pallet Soft and Low6:035Miss The Mississippi and You3:486Stack O Lee2:477That'll Never Happen No More2:198Dig Back Deep3:539Lord Send Me2:3710Spike Driver Blues2:09, on February 2, 2018. Oates commented that the album serves as a connection back to his pre-Hall & Oates×OATES29 August 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Enough Is Enough3:482Real Thing Going On3:383Mending3:414A Ways Away3:565Let Me Be the One4:196World Gone Wrong4:457Pushin' a Rock4:358Disconnected4:549Get Your Smile On3:4710Dreaming About Brazil3:4311Bajo la Luz de la Luna3:4312Walking in Memphis2:3413Walking in Memphis - Grabbitz Remix2:44 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.
In November 2023, Daryl Hall sued Oates and filed a temporary restraining order against him, for initially undisclosed reasons. The following week, Hall filed a declaration accusing Oates of "the ultimate partnership betrayal" for planning to sell his share of the duo's publishing to Primary Wave Music. Oates responded that Hall's statements were "inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate". Hall and Oates resolved their legal dispute in August 2025, after participating in arbitration.
Also in 2023, Oates competed in season ten of The Masked Singer as "Anteater". He was eliminated during the Group C finals in "Soundtrack of My Life" alongside Keyshia Cole as "Candelabra".

Personal life

Oates was previously married to former model Nancy Hunter. He and his second wife, Aimee, have a son. They split their time between Woody Creek, Colorado, and Nashville, Tennessee.
Oates became friends with Hunter S. Thompson when he moved to Woody Creek in the late 1980s, and the pair maintained a close bond until Thompson's suicide in 2005.