• April 7, 1948
• Sure, everyone knows Hall & Oates, the iconic rock and soul duo. But John Oates is more than just Daryl Hall's partner in crime. This guitar-slinging vocalist is a key ingredient in the Hall & Oates sound. He co-wrote many of their biggest hits, like "She's Gone," "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)," "Maneater" and "Out of Touch."
• Things got rocky in November 2023. Hall hit Oates with a lawsuit and a restraining order, accusing him of "the ultimate partnership betrayal" for wanting to sell his songwriting rights. Oates fired back, calling Hall's claims "inflammatory" and "inaccurate."
• Before Hall & Oates, John Oates recorded a single, "I Need Your Love," in 1966 with The Masters for Philadelphia-based Crimson Records.
• Oates released his first solo album, Phunk Shui, in 2002. The album title is a play on the words "funk" and "feng shui." So why did it take him so long to make a solo record?
  
  "I just never really had a collection of songs or a direction that I felt was important enough for me to make that kind of statement," Oates told Songfacts. "I didn't want to make a solo album just to say I made one. It really wasn't until early 2000 that I started to assemble some songs, and I thought it was a good time."
• He is passionate about photography and has exhibited his work.
• Oates has a wrestling background and was a champion in high school.
• In 2017, John Oates released his memoir, Change of Seasons.

Comments

More Songfacts:

With Arms Wide OpenCreed

Scott Stapp of Creed wrote "With Arms Wide Open" when he found out he was going to be a dad. He named his son Jagger.

The JokerSteve Miller Band

The "pompatus of love" from the Steve Miller song "The Joker" comes from a line in a '50s doo-wop song Miller misheard: "puppetutes of love."

Amber311

The 311 song "Amber" is likely about Nicole Scherzinger, who was dating the band's lead singer Nick Hexum.

Bitter Sweet SymphonyThe Verve

"Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve samples an obscure orchestral arrangement of the 1965 Rolling Stones song "The Last Time." The Verve had to sign away most of the royalties before they could release the song.

Cult of PersonalityLiving Colour

"Cult of Personality" by Living Colour incorporates speeches by John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Six Months In A Leaky BoatSplit Enz

The Split Enz song "Six Months In A Leaky Boat" is about the journey explorers made from Europe to colonize Australia and New Zealand, where the band is from.

Editor's Picks

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.