Born on 7 April: John Oates now without Daryl Hall

He was born in New York in 1948 but grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and met his eternal partner Daryl Hall while he was still a young adult

For decades, he was inextricably linked to the duo Hall & Oates. Even though both had their first musical experiences separately, their meeting on the benches of Temple University proved decisive for both men. At the age of 18, John Oates recorded a 45 RPM single which is hard to find now, but the title already hinted at the blue-eyed soul that blends romance and gentle rock, which would become the hallmark of Hall & Oates. It was titled "I Need Your Love," a programme they would expand on infinitely thereafter.

Between 1972 and 2006, the duo recorded just under 20 studio albums and charted about thirty songs in the US sales charts. Their voices always exhibited extreme sophistication, perfectly complementing each other. Whether invoking swoons in homes ("Sara Smile" or "Wait For Me") or gently prompting you to nod your head ("Rich Girl", "Maneater" or "I Can’t Go For That"), Hall & Oates' repertoire, while melodically perfect and technically undeniable, lacks any asperities, rendering it - how should I say? - somewhat soporific...

The relationship between the two artists began to falter around 2013, after their induction into the revered Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, delaying their 19th album recording indefinitely. Although they continued performing together until 2022, their legendary camaraderie has completely dissipated. In November 2023, lawyers were called in regarding a complex matter involving the sale of their repertoire rights to an external entity (something many artists of their era have done). As the two men could not agree on the matter, it's now up to the courts to decide. Just a year ago, in an interview with "Rolling Stone", John Oates definitively put to rest a partnership that lasted half a century. Since then, he has started performing under his own name. A page has indeed been turned.

(MH with Stéphane Soupart Photo: © Etienne Tordoir)

Photo: John Oates with Hall & Oates on stage at the Ancien Belgique in Brussels (Belgium) on 18 March 1983