By Lola Rossi
Performing a very large selection of their musical hits throughout the years, the Daryl Hall and John Oats Concert is Sold Out. “That seems to be the trend all over the country during this tour,” said Dillon Barbosa of Wolfson Entertainment, Inc., their management company. Those fortunate enough to have purchased tickets will enjoy the show this Friday, March 7, at 8 p.m.
Born Daryl Franklin Hohl, Daryl Hall was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, to parents with musical talent. His father was a professional singer and his mother was a vocal coach. He learned the guitar and sang at a very young age. While still attending Owen J. Roberts High School, Hall started his love for recording, which he continued after graduation in 1965. That fall he attended Temple University in Philadelphia where he majored in Music, formed a vocal harmony group called The Temptones, and started working with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, as both a session musician and as an artist. During this time, he also formed creative relationships with Smokey Robinson, The Temptations and many other top soul singers of the 60s.
Born John William Oates, John Oates was born in New York City, and was raised in North Wales, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. His mother, Ann De Palma, was an Italian immigrant from Salerno and his father, Al Oates, was of British and Spanish-Moorish heritage. He started playing music at a young age and graduated from North Penn High School in 1967. He enrolled in Temple University later that year.
Hall and Oates met in 1967 while on an elevator, escaping a fight that had erupted, during a dance at the college. The two were involved in several college bands together; both had several recording projects going separately; until they decided to form the duo Hall & Oates in 1972 and signed with Atlantic Records. Together they recorded 21 albums, which have sold over 80 million units worldwide, making them the “Most successful Duo in pop-rock history”.
In addition to their partnership in music, Hall and Oates both have their own solo careers and interests. To learn more about them, just google or search Wikipedia; their discography together and with many other talented musicians and vocalists is simply amazing. They were also involved with the original Live Aid Concert and the We Are The World charity recording.
Oates lives in Aspen, Colorado with his wife Aimee and his son, Tanner, who was born in 1996. Hall had a very long relationship with songwriter Sara Allen, who was the inspiration for “Sara Smile” and frequently collaborated with Hall & Oates until 2001. Hall is now married to Amanda Aspinall and lives with her and his two step children, March and Orson. He also has another son, Darren. I believe their base home is in Millerton, New York, however, he also has a place in London and homes in several other locations. His very popular, award-winning television show, “Live From Daryl’s House”, is now being taped in Pawling, New York at his new Club purchased in 2013, appropriately named, “Daryl’s House”.
On Palladia, I just watched the demolition of the first location, where Hall pressed the button to start the process; personally, I think he was just a little too close to the building; and then I watched him driving a back-loader, as he introduced the first episode at the new location of his show. Although the venue isn’t quite ready to open to the general public, his dream is to have a great venue for musicians to perform and record in, while enjoying a stellar menu prepared by his hand-picked Chef.
As if he wasn’t busy enough, Hall is currently executive producing another television show with Michael Morrissey and Jonathan Wolfson; “Daryl’s Restoration Over-Hall”. The show will focus on Hall’s colonial-era home in Sherman, Connecticut.
