John Oates

John Oates

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's main role in the duo is 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", 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.

KNOWN FOR
CREDITS
PHOTOS

TV Series

The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer

7.7
I Can Go for That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock

I Can Go for That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock

0
Saturday Night Live

Saturday Night Live

7
MTV Video Music Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

7.6
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

5.853
The Masked Singer

The Masked Singer

7.7
The Goldbergs

The Goldbergs

7.5
Will & Grace

Will & Grace

6.855
Garfunkel and Oates

Garfunkel and Oates

6.875
The Megan Mullally Show

The Megan Mullally Show

4.2
MTV Unplugged

MTV Unplugged

6.8

Movies

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Go Solo

Daryl Hall & John Oates: Go Solo

0
I Can Go For That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock

I Can Go For That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock

9
Daryl Hall and John Oates - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

Daryl Hall and John Oates - New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival

5.2
The Making of Sun City

The Making of Sun City

0
John Denver Rocky Mountain High An Earth Day Concert

John Denver Rocky Mountain High An Earth Day Concert

0
The Greatest Night in Pop

The Greatest Night in Pop

7.888
Daryl Hall & John Oates: The Liberty Concert

Daryl Hall & John Oates: The Liberty Concert

9
The Philly Sound... Heard 'Round the World

The Philly Sound... Heard 'Round the World

0
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Live in Dublin

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Live in Dublin

7.833
Hall & Oates: Live

Hall & Oates: Live

0
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

8.222
Daryl Hall & John Oates: From Philly to Chile

Daryl Hall & John Oates: From Philly to Chile

10
Pixels

Pixels

5.75
Totally Baked

Totally Baked

5.3
Live Aid

Live Aid

7.9
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Rock'n Soul Live

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Rock'n Soul Live

9
Daryl Hall and John Oates - Live at the Troubadour

Daryl Hall and John Oates - Live at the Troubadour

8
Hall & Oates: Our Kind of Soul

Hall & Oates: Our Kind of Soul

0
Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin

Two Rooms: A Tribute to Elton John & Bernie Taupin

6.3
Heavy Petting

Heavy Petting

5.6
You Again

You Again

6.3
Revival: The Sam Bush Story

Revival: The Sam Bush Story

0
Enormous: The Gorge Story

Enormous: The Gorge Story

3.5
Hall & Oates - Live in Sydney

Hall & Oates - Live in Sydney

0
We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

We Are the World: The Story Behind the Song

8.5
The Daryl Hall & John Oates Video Collection: 7 Big Ones

The Daryl Hall & John Oates Video Collection: 7 Big Ones

0
Evolution's End?

Evolution's End?

0
Norman's Rare Guitars Documentary

Norman's Rare Guitars Documentary

4