John Oates is an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as one-half of the rock duo Hall & Oates. He was born on April 7, 1948, in New York City, United States. Oates began his music career in the late 1960s, playing in several bands before forming Hall & Oates with Daryl Hall in the early 1970s. As part of Hall & Oates, Oates has released numerous hit songs, including "Sara Smile," "Rich Girl," "Kiss on My List," "Private Eyes," and "Maneater." The duo has sold over 40 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling music acts of all time. In addition to his work with Hall & Oates, Oates has also released several solo albums, including "Phunk Shui," "1000 Miles of Life," and "Arkansas," which features a mix of original songs and covers of traditional Americana and blues songs.