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JOHN OATES CELEBRATES HOMECOMING WITH THE RELEASE OF"1000 MILES OF LIFE"
For Philadelphia area native John Oates, of Hall and Oates fame, life has been an amazing journey. While building an impressive list of accomplishments that most can only dream of, as half of the biggest all time top selling pop recording duo, John Oates and his long time partner
Daryl Hall have amassed and astonishing catalog of recordings that includes twenty one albums selling more than eighty million copies worldwide, ten number one songs and more than twenty top forty hits. Performing at the
original "Live Aid" concert in 1985 as well as an integral part of the "We Are the World" charity recording only solidified the career of Hall and Oates, which by now had gone full circle. With so much to be proud of, one
would think that there is nothing left that Oates has not done. As he rapidly approaches forty years in the music industry Oates has most recently released his first solo effort in six years appropriately titled
"1000 Miles of Life".
Oates was born and raised in North Wales, Pennsylvania graduating from North Penn High School in 1966. While attending Temple University, he struck up a friendship with fellow student Daryl Hall and the rest is history. The two formed Hall and Oates in the early seventies releasing
their debut "Whole Oates" in 1972. Their break through record, 1974's "War Babies" featured their first major hit singles "Sara Smile" and "Rich Girl" catapulting Hall and Oates into the limelight and the record charts where
they would remain for the next ten years. A string of hit albums, which included the singles "Kiss on My List", "Everytime You Go Away", "You Make My Dreams", "Private Eyes", "I Can't Go For That", "Maneater", "One on One", "Say It Isn't So" and "Out of Touch", flooded the airwaves well into the eighties furthering the cause bringing Hall and Oates fame and fortune beyond their wildest dreams. By the mid eighties non stop touring and massive attention seemed to have taken it's toll and Hall and Oates decided
to disband taking a much needed break and to pursue solo efforts. They reunited in 1988 releasing a series of albums into the nineties but nothing garnered the attention they had come to expect. Hall made had chart success on a moderate level with his solo efforts while Oates remained
quiet staying out of the limelight indefinitely. In 2002 Oates reemerged releasing his first studio album "Phunk Shui"to enthusiastic reviews from critics and fans. Six years later Oates has resurfaced with his sophomore
master piece "1000 Miles of Life". Featuring eleven fresh compositions that he has spent the past year and half writing, Oates has captured the thoughts, emotions and feelings that only a well traveled artist could convey. "The last couple of years there has been a lot of personal changes in my life", says Oates. "Some very important people to me musically as well as personally passed away. It's life and it's one of those things that
seemed to compress into a short period of time. I started thinking of things in a lot more serious terms. The emotions and things that were going on inspired me to start writing." Oates added, "It's one of those records
where I felt that the songs were so personal and so important it had to have this elegance and the recording and the playing had to have simplicity. I think that's something you can only achieve when you've been
recording and have done this for as long as I have." When talking about the CD Oates is visibly proud of his work and very much aware of who he is and where he has come from in a music climate that has dramatically changed from the days he first strapped on a guitar. "The history is what gives me
the foundation to do what I want now", says Oates. ""It actually gave me freedom. Let's be frank, my name value alone gets me in the door but in the end you still have to deliver. It doesn't matter what you've done in the
past. If you show up with a bunch of songs that are mediocre people know it, you can't live on your laurels. The legacy of Hall and Oates wasn't even a consideration. It was really about making a good record of uncompromised quality and to the best of my ability." Oates efforts have
not gone to waste. It is difficult to put this CD down and not give it a good listen over and over again. For Oates this effort took on a very special meaning "I'm so fortunate to not have to have a hit record", says
Oates. "To not have to be on the radio, to not have to sell a million copies, luckily I've done all that. There were no commercial considerations at all on this record. It was totally about the beauty of music and a pure musical statement. I'm very, very lucky. I think that the spirit comes through on the record." Songs that deserve special attention is the tear jerking journey of "The Good Son", the roller coaster ride through life in, "Spinning Down", the rocking harmonies of "Carved in Stone", the importance
of family in "Circle of Three" and the bluesy rock of the title track "1000 Miles of Life".
John Oates most recently came to the Philadelphia area to do a solo show, with the support of his back-up band, which included long time Hall and Oates bassist and music director T.B. Wolk, at the historic Sellersville
Theatre in Sellersville, PA. Earlier that day Oates returned to his alma mater North Penn High School to perform and lecture to the student body and faculty. That evening many of his former teachers and classmates converged
onto the Sellersville Theatre to attend Oates's performance. Prior to the show there was a private reception for Oates and his family, which included
his parents, wife and son, hosted by theatre owner William Quigley and the North Penn School District. A video tribute to Oates, which was produced by North Penn High School students, was played followed by Oates entering the
gathering. Oates mingled taking photos and signing autographs before performing a ninety minute set to a standing room only audience. Oates was engaging and visibly touched this very special homecoming. He performed
many songs off his new release "1000 Miles of Life" while throwing in the occasional Hall and Oates classic. Following his performance, Oates greeted a hundred or so fans signing more autographs, taking photos and extending
his genuine appreciation for a very special night. The following day Oates and his family attended a very special concert and awards ceremony for the R & B Foundation based out of Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center. Oates was
joined by dozens of legendary artists which included the Whispers, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. While Oates is not officially doing the traditional concert tour, he is playing select venues through-out the U.S., doing lots of media and has a live webcast performance scheduled with Daryl Hall later this month. To stay up to date with John Oates go to www.johnoates.com or www.myspace.com/johnoatesmusic To see what shows are
coming to the Sellersville Theatre go to www.st94.com
Daryl Hall have amassed and astonishing catalog of recordings that includes twenty one albums selling more than eighty million copies worldwide, ten number one songs and more than twenty top forty hits. Performing at the
original "Live Aid" concert in 1985 as well as an integral part of the "We Are the World" charity recording only solidified the career of Hall and Oates, which by now had gone full circle. With so much to be proud of, one
would think that there is nothing left that Oates has not done. As he rapidly approaches forty years in the music industry Oates has most recently released his first solo effort in six years appropriately titled
"1000 Miles of Life".
Oates was born and raised in North Wales, Pennsylvania graduating from North Penn High School in 1966. While attending Temple University, he struck up a friendship with fellow student Daryl Hall and the rest is history. The two formed Hall and Oates in the early seventies releasing
their debut "Whole Oates" in 1972. Their break through record, 1974's "War Babies" featured their first major hit singles "Sara Smile" and "Rich Girl" catapulting Hall and Oates into the limelight and the record charts where
they would remain for the next ten years. A string of hit albums, which included the singles "Kiss on My List", "Everytime You Go Away", "You Make My Dreams", "Private Eyes", "I Can't Go For That", "Maneater", "One on One", "Say It Isn't So" and "Out of Touch", flooded the airwaves well into the eighties furthering the cause bringing Hall and Oates fame and fortune beyond their wildest dreams. By the mid eighties non stop touring and massive attention seemed to have taken it's toll and Hall and Oates decided
to disband taking a much needed break and to pursue solo efforts. They reunited in 1988 releasing a series of albums into the nineties but nothing garnered the attention they had come to expect. Hall made had chart success on a moderate level with his solo efforts while Oates remained
quiet staying out of the limelight indefinitely. In 2002 Oates reemerged releasing his first studio album "Phunk Shui"to enthusiastic reviews from critics and fans. Six years later Oates has resurfaced with his sophomore
master piece "1000 Miles of Life". Featuring eleven fresh compositions that he has spent the past year and half writing, Oates has captured the thoughts, emotions and feelings that only a well traveled artist could convey. "The last couple of years there has been a lot of personal changes in my life", says Oates. "Some very important people to me musically as well as personally passed away. It's life and it's one of those things that
seemed to compress into a short period of time. I started thinking of things in a lot more serious terms. The emotions and things that were going on inspired me to start writing." Oates added, "It's one of those records
where I felt that the songs were so personal and so important it had to have this elegance and the recording and the playing had to have simplicity. I think that's something you can only achieve when you've been
recording and have done this for as long as I have." When talking about the CD Oates is visibly proud of his work and very much aware of who he is and where he has come from in a music climate that has dramatically changed from the days he first strapped on a guitar. "The history is what gives me
the foundation to do what I want now", says Oates. ""It actually gave me freedom. Let's be frank, my name value alone gets me in the door but in the end you still have to deliver. It doesn't matter what you've done in the
past. If you show up with a bunch of songs that are mediocre people know it, you can't live on your laurels. The legacy of Hall and Oates wasn't even a consideration. It was really about making a good record of uncompromised quality and to the best of my ability." Oates efforts have
not gone to waste. It is difficult to put this CD down and not give it a good listen over and over again. For Oates this effort took on a very special meaning "I'm so fortunate to not have to have a hit record", says
Oates. "To not have to be on the radio, to not have to sell a million copies, luckily I've done all that. There were no commercial considerations at all on this record. It was totally about the beauty of music and a pure musical statement. I'm very, very lucky. I think that the spirit comes through on the record." Songs that deserve special attention is the tear jerking journey of "The Good Son", the roller coaster ride through life in, "Spinning Down", the rocking harmonies of "Carved in Stone", the importance
of family in "Circle of Three" and the bluesy rock of the title track "1000 Miles of Life".
John Oates most recently came to the Philadelphia area to do a solo show, with the support of his back-up band, which included long time Hall and Oates bassist and music director T.B. Wolk, at the historic Sellersville
Theatre in Sellersville, PA. Earlier that day Oates returned to his alma mater North Penn High School to perform and lecture to the student body and faculty. That evening many of his former teachers and classmates converged
onto the Sellersville Theatre to attend Oates's performance. Prior to the show there was a private reception for Oates and his family, which included
his parents, wife and son, hosted by theatre owner William Quigley and the North Penn School District. A video tribute to Oates, which was produced by North Penn High School students, was played followed by Oates entering the
gathering. Oates mingled taking photos and signing autographs before performing a ninety minute set to a standing room only audience. Oates was engaging and visibly touched this very special homecoming. He performed
many songs off his new release "1000 Miles of Life" while throwing in the occasional Hall and Oates classic. Following his performance, Oates greeted a hundred or so fans signing more autographs, taking photos and extending
his genuine appreciation for a very special night. The following day Oates and his family attended a very special concert and awards ceremony for the R & B Foundation based out of Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center. Oates was
joined by dozens of legendary artists which included the Whispers, Chaka Khan and Aretha Franklin. While Oates is not officially doing the traditional concert tour, he is playing select venues through-out the U.S., doing lots of media and has a live webcast performance scheduled with Daryl Hall later this month. To stay up to date with John Oates go to www.johnoates.com or www.myspace.com/johnoatesmusic To see what shows are
coming to the Sellersville Theatre go to www.st94.com
