John Oates is 73 years old today.
Oates is a rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer. He is 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," "Possession Obsession" (with Allen & Hall) and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," a remake of the 1965 song performed by The Righteous Brothers and written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.
Oates also co-wrote and sang backup on the song "Electric Blue," recorded by the band Icehouse, which was a Top Ten hit. He also co-wrote, produced and sang duet with Canadian group, The Parachute Club, on the 1987 song, "Love is Fire" — a Top 30 hit in Canada. Oates was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.
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 project, "Good Road To Follow," a set of original songs released as digital singles.
Oates lives with his son and wife in Woody Creek, CO. They split their time in Nashville.