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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. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Oates, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

John Candy: I Like Me
John Candy: I Like Me
2025 • Self - Singer (archive footage)
Norman's Rare Guitars Documentary
Norman's Rare Guitars Documentary
2024 • Self
The Greatest Night in Pop
The Greatest Night in Pop
2024 • Self (archive footage)
The Philly Sound... Heard 'Round the World
2023 • Self
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022 • Self (archive footage)
Daryl Hall & John Oates: From Philly to Chile
Daryl Hall & John Oates: From Philly to Chile
2022 • Self
Enormous: The Gorge Story
Enormous: The Gorge Story
2021
I Can Go For That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock
I Can Go For That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock
2019 • Himself

Full filmography

John Candy: I Like Me
John Candy: I Like Me
2025 • Self - Singer (archive footage)
View movie
The Greatest Night in Pop
The Greatest Night in Pop
2024 • Self (archive footage)
View movie
Pixels
Pixels
2015 • John Oates
View movie
You Again
You Again
2010 • John Oates
View movie
Totally Baked
Totally Baked
2007 • Himself
View movie
Hall & Oates: Live
Hall & Oates: Live
2005 • Guitar / Vocals
View movie
Live Aid
Live Aid
1985 • Self
View movie
John Oates – Biography, Known For & Filmography