- He wrote "She's Gone" after a girlfriend stood him up for a New Year's Eve party.
- Was played by Robert Downey Jr. in a skit on Saturday Night Live (1975). Bandmate Daryl Hall was played by Anthony Michael Hall.
- Inducted into the International Mustache Hall of Fame (inaugural class) in the category Music & Arts (2015).
- He and Daryl Hall released an album called "Do It for Love" (2003). The title song of the album "Do It for Love" went to No. 1 in the Adult Contemporary charts. The songs "Forever for You" reached #3, and "Man on a Mission" reached #16. They self-produced the album under their own record label.
- Attended Philadelphia's Temple University with bandmate Daryl Hall, both dropped out to pursue rock careers.
- Inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame (2004) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2014) with partner Daryl Hall.
- Is one half of Hall & Oates, arguably the most successful rock duo of all time.
- John and Daryl appeared on a VH1 Behind the Music and released an album compilation of that show.
- He and Daryl Hall were awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6752 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
- He was supposed to appear as a musical guest on a 1985 episode of Saturday Night Live (1975) with guest hosts Eugene Levy and the late John Candy but due to a writer's strike, the episode never aired.
- He alongside Daryl Hall have sold more albums than any other duo in music history.
- Has one son with his wife Aimee: Tanner John (born 1996).
- Had grown up with future Hall & Oates lead vocalist, Daryl Hall, only 38 miles of each other.
- Of Italian and Gibraltarian descent by his mother, and of English descent by his father.
- Best known as the guitarist of Hall & Oates. He occasionally sings lead vocals, as well.
- Following 2016, he upgraded his clean shaving face, and reverted back to having a mustache, with a goatee.
- Compared to Daryl Hall, Oates was also an devoted fan of American Bandstand (1952). By the time, they both appeared as Hall & Oates, they made several guest appearances on the show.
- Before he was with Hall & Oates, he recorded his first single, "I Need Your Love," with the Masters for Philadelphia-based Crimson Records.
- Because of Daryl Hall's feuding with him, along with contractual and financial disputes and creative differences, all of that, led to the breakup of Hall & Oates. [April 2024].
- Although Oates' main role in the duo is guitarist, he also co-wrote many of the top 10 songs that both he and Daryl Hall had recorded, during their tenure of the band.
- At North Penn High School, Oates was co-captain of the 1965-66 wrestling team his senior year and was Section 2 champion in the 127 lb (58 kg) weight class.
- Oates was asked whether he regretted not pursuing his degree in journalism. He replied that he did not-and admitted that he had in fact never intended to finish it. [1983].
- He published his memoirs, Change of Seasons. [28 March 2017].
- Margo Rey charted at #24 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks with the song "Let the Rain", which was co-written by Oates. [1 October 2011].
- Had turned down wrestling scholarships and opted to attend Temple University instead because it was in the city. Oates wrestled as a freshman at Temple and then got tired of losing weight.
- He played with the indie rock band the Bird and the Bee as a surprise guest. The show was a medley of the Bird and the Bee songs, as well as classic Hall & Oates. The performance was dedicated to H&O bassist T-Bone Wolk, who passed away in February. [March 2010].
- Graduated from North Penn High School, in Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania, in 1966.
- Had contributed the song "(She's the) Shape of Things to Come," on the soundtrack to the 1986 film, About Last Night (1986).
- A music enthusiast.
- He and Daryl Hall were supposed to appear on an episode of Saturday Night Live (1975) with guest hosts Eugene Levy and the late John Candy but due to a writer's strike the episode didn't air.
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