Happy Birthday to John Oates, one half of the most successful duo in popular music history, Hall and Oates, who was born on April 7, 1949.
During the late 60s, as Detroit ruled the pop and soul airwaves, the seeds for the next dominant soul city, Philadelphia, were germinating. And while they’re often not given their due as soul artists, two Temple University students, Daryl Hall & John Oates, were among the most talented and influential of these upstart Philadelphia musicians. While in school, Hall became a member of the Romeos, a vocal group that included the future “Big Three” foundation of the Sound of Philadelphia, Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff and Thom Bell, and shared the music sensibilities and song craftsmanship of those music giants. Hall and Oates were then acquaintances, and ultimately teamed together for good in 1969 under the management of future Sony chief Tommy Mottola, who landed them a recording contract with Atlantic Records.
