Felix Leiter is a fictional character created by Ian Fleming in the James Bond series. The character is an operative for the CIA and Bond's friend. After losing a leg and his hand to a shark attack, Leiter joined the Pinkerton Detective Agency. The name "Felix" comes from the middle name of Fleming's friend Ivor Bryce, while the name "Leiter" was the surname of Fleming's friend Marion Oates Leiter Charles, then wife of Thomas Leiter.

Leiter also appeared in novels by continuation authors, as well as ten films and one television programme, Casino Royale, where the character became a British agent, Clarence Leiter, played by Michael Pate. In the Eon Productions series of films, Leiter has been portrayed by Jack Lord, Cec Linder, Rik Van Nutter, Norman Burton, David Hedison, John Terry and Jeffrey Wright; in the independent production Never Say Never Again, the part was played by Bernie Casey.

Novels[link]

Felix Leiter, James Bond's CIA ally and friend, played a part in six of the Fleming novels; he is introduced in Casino Royale as being thin, tall, about thirty-five years old^[1] and a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps who was working with the Joint Intelligence Staff of NATO.^[2] Fleming named the character after two of his American friends: "Felix" was Ivar Bryce's middle name, whilst Tommy Leiter was a mutual friend.^[3] Academic Kerstin Jütting describes Leiter as "a cool and quiet no-nonsense character who knows 007's strengths and weaknesses well".^[4] Physically, Fleming describes Leiter in Casino Royale: "a mop of straw-coloured hair lent his face a boyish look which closer examination contradicted".^[5]

Leiter is Bond's saviour in Casino Royale, providing him with 32 million francs when Bond has been cleaned out by SMERSH paymaster Le Chiffre, calling it "Marshall Aid".^[6] Media historian James Chapman notes that Bond's relationship with Leiter represented the Special Relationship between Britain and America, although the American Leiter is in the subordinate position to the British Bond.^[7] Academic Jeremy Black agrees, although points out that the Bond and Leiter relationship suggested "a far smoother working of the Anglo-American alliance than was in fact the case."^[8] Academic and writer Kingsley Amis, in his exploration of Bond in The James Bond Dossier, considered that this view of Leiter was partly because of Fleming's writing, noting that "Leiter, such a nonentity as a piece of characterization ... he, the American, takes orders from Bond, the Britisher, and that Bond is constantly doing better than he".^[9] Bond scholars Bennett and Woollacott note that although the two men share adventures, it is Bond who leads, not Leiter. Leiter's role is to "suppl[y] Bond with technical support and hardware, add ... muscle where needed and money".^[10]

Fleming's second novel, Live and Let Die shows that in his early twenties, Leiter wrote a few pieces on Dixieland jazz for the New York Amsterdam News.^[2] Bond scholar John Griswold notes that in the original draft of the story, Fleming killed Leiter off in the shark attack;^[11] when Naomi Burton, Fleming's US agent with Curtis Brown protested about the death of the character, Fleming relented and Leiter lived, albeit missing an arm and half a leg.^[12] Espionage scholar Rupert Allason, writing as Nigel West, noted that Leiter's involvement in a domestic US matter was a breach of the CIA's charter, as laid out in the National Security Act of 1947.^[13]

After the shark attack, Leiter returned in Diamonds Are Forever with a hook for his missing hand and a prosthetic leg; as he had lost his gun hand, he was no longer with the CIA, but employed as a private detective by Pinkertons Detective Agency,^[14] although he was on the reserve of the CIA and was recalled for Thunderball and The Man with the Golden Gun.^[15] Fleming had flown to the US in August 1954 to research the background to Diamonds Are Forever; his friend Ernest Cuneo introduced him to a rich socialite, William Woodward, Jr., who drove a Studillac—a Studebaker with a powerful Cadillac engine. According to Bond scholar Henry Chancellor, "the speed and comfort of it impressed Ian, and he shamelessly appropriated this car" for Leiter to drive in the novel.^[16]

For the post-Fleming continuation Bond authors, Leiter has also appeared on a periodic basis. After John Gardner took over writing the James Bond novel series, Leiter made an occasional appearance and the novel For Special Services introduces his daughter, Cedar Leiter, who is also a CIA officer (and briefly Bond's romantic conquest).^[17] Raymond Benson also included Leiter's character in some of his novels, including The Facts of Death and Doubleshot.^[18] Similarly the more recent continuation Bond novels—the 2008 Sebastian Faulks novel Devil May Care and the 2011 novel Carte Blanche by Jeffery Deaver—both contained the character.^[19][20]

Television[link]

Michael Pate: "Clarence Leiter" from the British Secret Service.

Michael Pate (1954)[link]

The first screen interpretation of the Leiter character was in the 1954 CBS one-hour television adventure Casino Royale, broadcast as part of the dramatic anthology series Climax Mystery Theater, which ran between October 1954 and June 1958.^[21] For the American audience the Bond character from Casino Royale was re-cast as an American agent—"Card Sense" Jimmy Bond, played by Barry Nelson—described as working for "Combined Intelligence", supported by the British agent, Clarence Leiter;^[22] "thus was the Anglo-American relationship depicted in the book reversed for American consumption", according to Jeremy Black.^[23] Leiter, who was an agent for Station S, was a combination of the novel's Felix Leiter and René Mathis^[24] and was played by the Australian actor Michael Pate.^[25]

Films[link]

Eon Productions films[link]

Jack Lord: 1962[link]

Jack Lord was the first Felix Leiter, appointed into the role for the first Bond film, Dr. No.^[26] Eon Productions started filming the series out of the order written by Fleming (Fleming had started with Casino Royale, with Dr. No being the sixth novel). Leiter was not present in the Fleming novel, but the writers added the character to the film.^[27] Bond scholars Smith and Lavington consider Leiter to offer negligible help to Bond, largely because there is no role for him in the novel,^[28] a point with which continuation Bond author Raymond Benson agrees, noting that he is "extraneous to the dramatic action".^[29] Jeremy Black agrees, although points out that the inclusion of Leiter was a sign of American influence in the Caribbean.^[30]

Lord played Leiter in a "swaggering" fashion,^[31] according to Smith and Lavington, and they considered him "excellent, an effective American version of James Bond."^[31] Bond scholars Pfeiffer and Worrall agree, stating that Lord's was "one of the most satisfying portrayals of Leiter".^[32]

Featured in

• Dr. No (1962)

Cec Linder: 1964[link]

When the role of Leiter was brought back for the third Bond film, Goldfinger, in 1964, Lord was again approached to play Leiter; according to screenwriter Richard Maibaum, Lord demanded co-star billing with Connery, a bigger role and more money to reprise the role.^[33]The producers instead decided to recast the role, initially with Austin Willis.^[34] At the last minute, Cec Linder switched roles with Willis, who played cards with Goldfinger.^[34] Linder was the only actor actually on location in Miami.^[35] Raymond Benson considers that Linder was "miscast" as Leiter because he looked too old: "he looks like Bond's uncle rather than his best friend."^[36]

Featured in

• Goldfinger (1964)

Rik Van Nutter: 1965[link]

The fourth film in the Eon series, Thunderball, was the third to portray Leiter and the producers chose a third actor to play the role, Rik Van Nutter. Van Nutter was married to Swedish actress Anita Ekberg at the time and the couple had dined with Cubby and Dana Broccoli after Ekberg had appeared in the Eon-produced Call Me Bwana. Van Nutter was subsequently offered the Leiter role without an audition,^[37] although he did have screen tests with some of the Bond girls.^[38]

According to Pfeiffer and Worrall, Leiter had a more proactive role in Thunderball and Van Nutter was "an inspired choice for the role".^[39] Smith and Lavington agree and consider that Van Nutter's "relaxed and charming performance works well."^[40] Benson also concurs, but complains that although Van Nutter is a piece of successful casting, "the script … does not give the character any real depth".^[41]

Featured in

• Thunderball (1965)

Norman Burton: 1971[link]

For the 1971 instalment, Diamonds Are Forever, Eon chose Norman Burton. Burton's Leiter was more amusing and more exasperated than the previous incarnations of the role.^[42]

Raymond Benson again considers that the Leiter role was miscast and considered Burton to be "overweight and too old for the role".^[43] Smith and Lavington describe him as "an elderly, portly man in a government-issue suit … anonymous, orthodox".^[44] Pfeiffer and Worrall agree, thinking that Burton was "the least likely incarnation" of Leiter.^[45]

Featured in

• Diamonds Are Forever (1971)

David Hedison: 1973 & 1989[link]

In 1973 the Bond franchise introduced a new main lead, Roger Moore, who played Bond for the next twelve years in the role and making seven films.^[46][47] To play the part of Leiter, an old friend of Moore's was chosen, David Hedison.^[48] Pfeiffer and Worrall consider that this friendship comes though, with "genuine chemistry" between the two.^[49] Hedison played the role with an understated charm, although the script did not give Leiter much to do.^[49] Raymond Benson thought him miscast, but acknowledged that "he's the best Leiter next to Rik Van Nutter."^[50]

Hedison returned to play Leiter sixteen years later and after another actor has also been in the role. Hedison did not expect to return to the role, saying "I was sure that [Live and Let Die] would be my first – and last"^[51] and Glen was reluctant to cast the 61-year old actor, since the role even had a scene parachuting. Hedison was the only actor to play Leiter twice,^[52] until Jeffrey Wright appeared in both Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace.^[53]

For Licence to Kill, Leiter was working for the DEA^[54] and was attacked by a shark, losing a leg in the incident.^[55]

Featured in

• Live and Let Die (1973)
• Licence to Kill (1989)

John Terry: 1987[link]

Following Hedison's first outing in 1973 in Live and Let Die, the Leiter role did not appear again until the 1987 film The Living Daylights, by which time Bond was being played by Timothy Dalton; the role was taken up by John Terry.^[56]

Smith and Lavington consider that, although the scene between Bond and Leiter sees warmth in the relationship between them, "it is too fleeting to have any impact".^[57] Pfeiffer and Worrall agree on the briefness of Leiter's role in the film, although they consider that Terry has "virtually no chemistry with Dalton".^[58]

Featured in

• The Living Daylights (1987)

Jeffrey Wright: 2006 & 2008[link]

Casino Royale rebooted^[59] the franchise, which allowed Leiter to re-appear and he and Bond meet for the first time in the film.^[54] Early script drafts for Quantum of Solace gave Wright a larger role, but his screen time was restricted by on-set rewrites.^[60]

Featured in

• Casino Royale (2006)
• Quantum of Solace (2008)

Non-Eon films[link]

Bernie Casey: 1983[link]

In 1983 Kevin McClory, one of the original writers of the novel Thunderball, produced Never Say Never Again, a re-make of the 1965 film Thunderball. McClory's rights to the film were held separate to those of Eon Productions, although he had been one of the producers for the original Thunderball adaptation.^[61] The film marked the return of Sean Connery to the Bond role;^[62] he spoke with Bernie Casey, saying that as the Leiter role was never remembered by audiences, using a black Leiter may make him more memorable.^[63] Smith and Lavington consider Casey to be "the most compelling Felix Leiter since Jack Lord", although again there was little in the script for him to do.^[64]

Featured in

• Never Say Never Again (1983)

See also[link]

• Jack Wade
• Damian Falco

References[link]

Bibliography[link]

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (April 2011)

Amanda Wilson
Background information
Birth name	Amanda Wilson
Genres	House
Associated acts	Freemasons

Amanda Wilson , is a British singer in the UK house music act, Freemasons. As part of the act she has scored two major UK hit singles, one of which went on to success in several European charts, and the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart.

Background[link]

Wilson provided lead vocals on the track "When We Were In Love" which made it to the semi final of The Great British Song Contest 1998 to select the UK's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest. She has a four octave vocal range and her vocals have been compared to Mariah Carey.^{[by whom?]} Her vocal skills brought her to the attention of music industry A&R. However most of Wilson's success has been found as a guest vocalist working with dance acts.

With the Freemasons[link]

Wilson provided lead vocals on many tracks on the Freemasons' album, Shakedown. It is believed that The Freemasons discovered Wilson while singing at a karaoke bar in the Méditerranée.^{[citation needed]} Her biggest hit was the Freemasons track, "Love On My Mind", which reached number 11 in 2005 on the UK Singles Chart.^[1] The song sampled vocals from "This Time Baby" by Jackie Moore, and lyrics from "When The Heartache Is Over" by Tina Turner. Wilson's vocals on the track were electronically lowered in pitch to blend in with the sampled vocals of Jackie Moore.^{[citation needed]}

Following her success with the Freemasons' first album, Wilson went on to provide lead vocals for their 2008 remix of Gusto's "Disco's Revenge", which gave her a third Top 40 hit in the UK (peaking at number 34).^[2]

She has also provided vocals for various other dance tracks, most recently on the Outsiders' single "Keep This Fire Burning".

Discography[link]

• "Love On My Mind" – Freemasons (2005) UK #11^[1]
• "Electric Love" – Glamour Katz (2006)
• "Watchin'" – Freemasons (2006) UK #19^[3]
• "I Feel Like" – Freemasons (2007)
• "Gotta Let Go" – A. Lee (2007)
• "Intoxicated" – Raw (2007)
• "Heaven In Your Eyes" Night Drive (2007)
• "The Right Way" – Wawa & Herd (2007)
• "Disco's Revenge" – Gusto (2008) UK #33
• "Good 4 Me" – Daytone (2008)
• "Pure Emotion" – Mr Fix It (2008)
• "Found A Miracle" – Loveless (2008)
• "Keep This Fire Burning" - Outsiders (2008) UK #80
• "Need In Me" - Danny Dove & Steve Smart (2008)
• "Love Resurrection" - Aurora (2008)
• "You're Not Good For Me" - Roxy ST (2008)
• "Falling For You" - Soulcatcher (2008)
• "Saturday" - Weekend Lovers (2008)
• "Something Gotta Give" - Thomas Gold (2008)
• "Break It Off" - Audiostar (2008)
• "The Right Way (Remixes)" - Wawa & Herd (2009)
• "Make It Real" - Signs (2009)
• "Surrender" - Night Drive (2009)
• "Just Because" - Thomas Gold (2009)
• "Underneath My Skin" - Nick Bridges (2009)
• "U Sure Do" (2010)
• "Satisfaction Guaranteed" - Mr Sam and Andy Duguid (2010)
• "Love U Seek" - Samuele Sartini (2010)
• "Caught Up" - Paul Harris, Michael Gray, Jon Pearn (2010)
• "Not Over You" - Olav Basoski & Redroche (2010)
• "Smile" - Sound Of Soho (2010)
• "Sometimes" - Dim Chris (2010)
• "Seek Bromance" - Tim Berg (2010) (Wilson re-recorded the vocals from "Love You Seek" for Berg's "Bromance")
• "You & I" Kalwi & Remi(2011)
• "Back Again" - Samuele Sartini (2011)
• "You Found Me" - Dim Chris (2011)
• "Runaway" (Ian Carey Remix) (2011)
• "Runaway" (Sidney Samson Remix) (2011)
• "Don't Throw It Away"(Dominatorz Extended Club Mix)(2011)

Solo releases[link]

• "Spin It Again" (2009)
• "Another Minute Remix 2010" (2010)
• "Amanda Wilson" (Album) (2012)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Amanda Wilson on Discogs

This article's lead section may not adequately summarize its contents. Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points. (March 2011)

Jay Kay
Jay Kay at the 2007 Gumball 3000 rally
Background information
Born	(1969-12-30) 30 December 1969 (age 42)
Origin	Stretford, Lancashire, England
Genres	Acid jazz, funk, disco, blue-eyed soul, electronica
Occupations	Musician, singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1989–present
Associated acts	Jamiroquai

Jason "Jay Kay" Luís Cheetham^[1] (born 30 December 1969 in Stretford, Lancashire),^[2] is a Grammy Award-winning English musician, best known as the lead singer of the band Jamiroquai.

Career[link]

Born in Stretford, Greater Manchester, England, Kay formed Jamiroquai with members Toby Smith (keyboards), Stuart Zender (bass), Nick Van Gelder (drums) and Wallis Buchanan (didgeridoo) together with guest appearances by Gavin Dodds (guitar), Maurizio Ravelico (percussion) and Johnny Thirkell (horns) amongst others, both on the band's debut album and on their first tour.

Jamiroquai has sold over thirty million albums, and has spent a collective 162 weeks on the UK singles chart between 1992 and 2006 with Kay's personal wealth said to be around £40 million.^[3] He appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List 2004 at joint-950th. The Sunday Times Rich List 2008 has him tied for #1,794, with £40 million.

After the huge success of Jamiroquai's first single, When You Gonna Learn, a US$1.9 million, eight album deal was signed with Sony Music Entertainment. The band's first album was Emergency on Planet Earth. The relationship with Sony ended in 2007.^[4]

The band's third album, Travelling Without Moving, generated international attention with the ground breaking video of Virtual Insanity which earned Jamiroquai four MTV Video Music Awards. Since then, their fourth album, Synkronized, has done just as well; it was recorded in Kay's home studio located in the garden of his 500-year-old, 11-bedroom Buckinghamshire mansion.

Kay has previously stated that he would like his band to continue writing music for another 15–20 years. However it was reported in February 2007 that Kay had wanted to quit music.^[4] This was denied on Jamiroquai's official website the day after.

Headgear[link]

Kay wearing a headdress during a concert

Kay is well known for his array of elaborate hats and headgear. When appearing professionally (in concerts, interviews etc.) he has been referred to as "the mad hatter" for his love of headgear.^[5] It is said that he has over 50 different hats that he wears at concerts and in public.^[6] He has stated publicly that some of them were made by his own mother.^{[citation needed]}

Kay's most recognizable headgear is his mirrored "feather headdress" seen on the cover of High Times: Singles 1992–2006.

TV performances[link]

Kay appeared in an episode of the BBC series The Naked Chef alongside chef Jamie Oliver. He has also performed on the series Strictly Come Dancing singing Canned Heat. He also appeared three times in the BBC car show Top Gear. The first appearance was in Series 1 episode 2, where he set a lap time of 1:48.1 for the show's "Star in a reasonably priced car", becoming the leading highscorer for the rest of the current and most of the next series. His second appearance was in Series 3 episode 4, where he drove his Lamborghini Miura with Richard Hammond as passenger. The third appearance was in Series 11 episode 6, where he came in to beat the top time held by Simon Cowell. He succeeded with a lap time of 1:45.8.

The day before Jamiroquai performed their new single, White Knuckle Ride, on The X Factor on 31 October 2010, Kay was quoted by The Sun as saying of the show's judges Cheryl Cole and Dannii Minogue: "What are they going to tell me about fucking music? ... When have you ever done anything? You're useless. The pair of you. I mean you look great and I'd like to fucking shag you but that's all." During his performance on the show, the pair talked continuously and refused to applaud at the end. Notably, neither of the other two judges stood up either.^[7]

Paparazzi confrontations[link]

In 2001, Kay was charged with assaulting a photographer and damaging his camera outside a nightclub. Kay pleaded not guilty and the charges were later dropped.^[8] On 12 September 2006, Kay was cautioned by police over an incident outside a London nightclub. He allegedly assaulted two photographers.^[9]

Personal life[link]

Kay's mother Karen Kay^[2] is a former cabaret singer and television personality. After Kay's identical twin, David, died some weeks after they were born[1], Karen brought Kay up largely alone, which gave him "an itinerant childhood, half of it living in 'rural Suffolk and rural Devon’", according to his 2010 The Daily Telegraph interview [2] and his 1999/1994 television interviews [3]. It's stated in the 1997 Lancashire Evening Telegraph article that Kay "moved with his mother and step-father Mervyn Kay to Manchester as a youngster."[4] James Royal, often misidentified as Kay's stepfather, is Karen Kay's former manager whom she had a relationship with some time during Kay's childhood years. Royal had stated in his 2002 interview in News of the World about 13-year-old Kay's six-month stay in Thailand that he never married Karen Kay, but "still regards" Kay as his "stepson".[5]

Jay Kay is Jewish and attended Jews' Free School in London.^[10]

Kay reveals in his 2010 The Sunday Times interview that his biological father is Portuguese.^[11] Kay met his biological father Luís Saraiva, a former professional guitarist, in 2001 when Kay was 32 years old. On 26 May in 2006, Saraiva appeared in a two-minute backstage interview with an interviewer from Portuguese television station RTP1 at the 2006 Rock in Rio concert where Jamiroquai made its appearance. The interviewer erroneously referred to Luís Saraiva as Luís Silveira during the interview.

From 1998 to 2001, Kay dated Denise Van Outen. They were engaged and reported to be on the verge of marriage,^[12] but split up in 2001; Jamiroquai's album A Funk Odyssey is mostly about their breakup.

In a 2010 interview, Kay indicated that at one time he had a "substantial" cocaine habit. He has however been free of drugs since 2003.^[13]

Kay continues to support the Burma Campaign UK and the need for democracy in Burma. He is also a patron of the Captive Animals Protection Society, a charity campaigning for an end to the use of animals in circuses, zoos and exotic pet trade. He has spoken out against animal exploitation for entertainment.^[14]

Cars and vehicles[link]

Kay has a strong interest in exotic cars and owns over 65 luxury cars, mainly sports cars. His love of motors was expressed with the release of the album Travelling Without Moving. The album's cover featured an adaptation of the "Buffalo Man" logo and the Ferrari crest, which probably earned him his recent visit to Maranello and a close look at the new Ferrari 458 Spider.^[15] Three of his cars appeared in the video for the song Cosmic Girl. In total he has 68 vehicles including what he calls "staff cars" and a 'one off' Ferrari.^[16]

A combination of cars and music is evident in the song Black Devil Car on the album Dynamite which is a tribute to his black Ferrari Enzo. The Enzo suffered damage to the windows after an altercation with hotel chef Aaron Billington at the Brudenell Hotel in Aldeburgh, Suffolk.^[17]

In occasion of his 39th birthday, he admitted he has become a Porsche fan. In the last years he has bought a black 356 Speedster, a blue 911 Carrera RS, and a 911 GT3 RS in orange livery. A 1973 Porsche Carrera RS has been used in the clip of "White Knuckle Ride", one of the last singles of the band, included in their last album.

Kay's love of fast cars has occasionally landed him in legal trouble. In May 1998, Kay was caught driving at 111 mph (179 km/h) and his licence was suspended for 42 days. He said in an interview: "I should count myself lucky. I've clocked up 175 mph on a public road. If I'd been caught doing that, it would have been a prison sentence." He appeared in court in Scotland to face charges for speeding after being clocked at 105 mph (169 km/h) in a Mercedes-Benz G-Class, on 26 February 2004. The speed limit for the road was 70 mph (110 km/h). He was later banned from driving for six months.

Kay participated in the 2007 Gumball 3000 rally as part of Team Adidas in a brand new Maserati Quattroporte. In 2010 he took part in the Mille Miglia in his Maserati A6G/54.

He holds the record on the BBC show Top Gear for the fastest lap in the (now retired) Chevrolet Lacetti on the "Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car" segment. His time of 1:45.83 was four-hundredths of a second ahead of Kevin McCloud, one-tenth of a second ahead of Brian Johnson, lead singer of the rock band AC/DC, and one tenth of a second above then-leader, Simon Cowell. He was invited back as Cowell had been "on the top for long enough".

Kay also likes motorcycles and was at the Ace Cafe to see Charley Boorman off for his television series By Any Means. He rides a Rizla Suzuki GSXR-600. He owns a motorhome, and holds a C LGV (class 2) driving licence just to drive it. He persuaded his close friend James Martin to also purchase one. Kay also leases a Robinson R44 helicopter, registration G-JKAY.

See also[link]

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart

References[link]

John Oates
John Oates in 2009.
Background information
Birth name	John William Oates
Born	(1949-04-07) April 7, 1949 (age 63)
Origin	New York City, New York, United States
Genres	Blue-eyed soul, pop rock, rhythm and blues, soul, bluegrass
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar
Years active	1967–present
Labels	Atlantic, RCA, Epic, Arista, U-Watch
Associated acts	Carly Simon, Hall & Oates
Website	www.hallandoates.com

John William Oates (born April 7, 1949) is an American rock, R&B and soul guitarist, musician, songwriter and producer best known as half of the rock and soul duo Hall & Oates (with co-founder/lead vocalist/songwriter/occasional instrumentalist Daryl Hall).

Though he was a primarily a guitarist he also co-wrote several songs including: "Sara Smile" (with Daryl Hall - a song that refers to Hall's then-girlfriend, Sara Allen), "You Make My Dreams" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "She's Gone" (with Daryl Hall), "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "Maneater" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall), "Out of Touch" (with Daryl Hall), and "Adult Education" (with Daryl Hall & Sara Allen). He also sang lead vocals and has written or co-written a few less popular singles that did not make it to the Billboard's Top 10 such as: "How Does It Feel to Be Back", "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" (which was a remake of the 1965 song performed by The Righteous Brothers and written by Phil Spector, Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil, on which he shared lead vocals with Hall) and "Possession Obsession" (with Sara Allen & Daryl Hall). In addition to his work with Hall, Oates co-wrote and sang back-up on the song "Electric Blue" by the band Icehouse which was a Billboard Top Ten hit.

Life and career[link]

Oates was born in New York City, New York. He was raised in Philadelphia's suburb of North Wales, Pennsylvania. He was married to Aimee Oates, and his son Tanner was born in 1996.

In 1966 he recorded his first single, "I Need Your Love," with The Masters for Philadelphia-based Crimson Records.^[1] After finishing high school in 1967, John attended Temple University in Philadelphia. It was there that he met Daryl Hall, also a musician and student at Temple, who was already a senior when Oates was a freshman. The two were involved in several college bands, but after forming the duo Hall & Oates, they were signed by Atlantic Records in 1972.^[2] Hall & Oates went on to record 21 albums (to date), which have sold over 80 million units worldwide, making them arguably the most successful duo in pop–rock history. They have scored ten number-one records and over 20 top-40 hits and have toured the world for decades. Their involvement in the original Live Aid concert and the ground-breaking We Are The World charity recording established them further as artists. Their influence on modern pop music has been cited by numerous contemporary bands, including Gym Class Heroes and The Killers, who have credited and acknowledged H&O's considerable contribution to American music.

In 1983 Oates was asked whether he regretted not pursuing his degree in journalism. He replied no and admitted never intending to finish it.^[3]

Despite 30 years as a chart-topping performer and sought-after producer, Oates did not release a solo album until 2002's Phunk Shui.

Oates took part, along with Jamie Cullum, in the song "Greatest Mistake" by Handsome Boy Modeling School. The song appears on the 2004 album White People.

Oates's second solo album, 1000 Miles of Life, was released on August 23, 2008.^[4]

As reported by Billboard, Oates will be starring in an animated series called J.Stache created by Evan Duby at Primary Wave Music Publishing.^[5]

In March 2010, Oates played with 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 died on February 27, 2010.

Oates now lives with his son and wife in Aspen, Colorado.

Oates came out and played with moe. at the Belly Up Tavern in Aspen on February 3, 2011. Oates also came out and played with Umphrey's Mcgee in Aspen on February 9 and 10, 2011, and again in the early hours of June 5, 2011 at Mountain Jam in Hunter, New York.

On October 1, 2011 Margo Rey charted at #24 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks with the song "Let the Rain", which is co-written by John Oates.^[6]

[edit] Hall & Oates songs featuring John Oates on lead vocal

• “Had I Known You Better Then” from Abandoned Luncheonette
• “Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)” from Abandoned Luncheonette
• “I'm Just A Kid (Don't Make Me Feel Like A Man)” from Abandoned Luncheonette
• “Can't Stop The Music (He Played It Much Too Long)” from War Babies
• “Camellia” from Daryl Hall & John Oates
• “Alone Too Long” from Daryl Hall & John Oates
• “Back Together Again” from Bigger Than Both of Us
• “Crazy Eyes” from Bigger Than Both of Us
• “You'll Never Learn” from Bigger Than Both of Us
• “The Emptyness” from Beauty on a Back Street
• “Portable Radio” from X-Static
• “All You Want Is Heaven” from X-Static
• “Bebop/Drop” from X-Static
• “How Does It Feel To Be Back” from Voices
• “You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'” from Voices
• “Africa” from Voices
• “Mano A Mano” from Private Eyes
• “Italian Girls” from H2O
• “At Tension” from H2O
• “Jingle Bell Rock” from 1983 Christmas single (flip-side featured another version with lead vocals by Daryl Hall)
• “Possession Obsession” from Big Bam Boom
• “Cold Dark And Yesterday” from Big Bam Boom
• "Rockability" from Ooh Yeah!
• "Keep On Pushin' Love" from Ooh Yeah!
• "Change Of Season" from Change of Season
• "Only Love" from Change of Season

Releases[link]

• Phunk Shui (CD that was released multiple times, each adding bonus tracks)
• John Oates: Live At The Historic Wheeler Opera House (DVD and bonus live CD) (2004)
• John Oates Solo - The Album, The Concert (DualDisc: CD side of Phunk Shui (14 track version), DVD side Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera House) (bonus live CD that came with the original above the DVD is not included) (2006)
• 1000 Miles Of Life (2008)
• Mississippi Mile (2011)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official John Oates website
• Official website of Hall & Oates
• John Oates at Allmusic