John Oates (b. 1949)

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Biography

John William Oates 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.

Timeline

The story of John Oates, told in moments.

1975 Event

Hall & Oates released "Sara Smile," their first hit. Written by Hall for his girlfriend. Oates's rhythm guitar and backing vocals became half the signature sound. They'd spend a decade climbing.

Was 'Sara Smile' the song that proved the partnership worked? What does being half a signature sound feel like? Did a decade of climbing test your patience?

1982 Life

Hall & Oates hit their peak. "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" reached number one on the pop, R&B, and dance charts simultaneously. They became the best-selling duo in music history.

How does a song hit number one on pop, R&B, and dance simultaneously? What does being the best-selling duo in history mean to you? Was 1982 the peak or just the visible part?

2014 Event

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Hall. Their tally: six number-one hits, six platinum albums, over 80 million records sold worldwide.

Did the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame feel overdue? What do 80 million records sold say about your partnership? Was the Hall of Fame for Hall & Oates or for you too?

Artifacts (15)

The Teaching of Tennyson

A complete survey of Tennyson's poetry; probably the best book of its kind available for the general reader.

1973

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Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

Three-dimensional cutaway illustrations and floor plans of key landmarks complement these richly illustrated, fully updated travel handbooks that also include enhanced maps, street-by-street guides,...

2011

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The Rough Guide to the Philippines

The Rough Guide to the Philippinesis the ultimate companion for exploring this stunning Southeast Asian archipelago. Discover the Philippines' highlights in full-colour with information on everything...

2011

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Change of Seasons: A Memoir

A memoir by the co-founder of the rock duo Hall & Oates explores the childhood music that shaped his early music perspectives, the unlikely artistic pursuits that led to the band's first hit, and his...

2017

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King of Great Britain, France and Ireland

xecuted in January 1649, and England became a republic. On 5 February, the Covenanter Parliament of Scotland proclaimed Charles II as "King of Great Britain, France and Ireland" at the Mercat Cross,...

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Myth and Reality in the Rain Forest: How Conservation Strategies are Failing in West Africa

"This book offers a timely, clear-headed, and uniquely important contribution to conservation, one that should be read by all bureaucrats, scientists, and others involved with development projects...

1999

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Constituent Power and the Legitimacy of International Organizations: The Constitution of Supranationalism

This book develops a constitutional theory of international organization to explain the legitimation of supranational organizations. Supranational organizations play a key role in contemporary global...

2020

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that the matter was easily accounted for: For that his discourse was his own, hi...

h as Lord Rochester. Of Charles II, Rochester supposedly said: To which Charles is reputed to have replied "that the matter was easily accounted for: For that his discourse was his own, his actions...

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