April 22, 2015, Nashville, Tenn. — Legendary musician and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, John Oates, has signed with St. Martin’s Press to release a memoir in late 2016. Oates’ as-yet-untitled book will take readers on a fascinating and intimate journey across the many chapters of his storied life.
Collaborating with veteran music journalist and author, Chris Epting, Oates’ memoir will trace the singer’s life from his early days in New York City, to his fateful move to Philadelphia as a child, where he met his musical partner Daryl Hall, through the many ups and downs the duo experienced on their way to becoming two of the most celebrated and popular artists of their generation.
The book will also focus on many facets of Oates’ life of which fans are probably not aware.
As Oates describes, “Given the arc of my solo career the last several years, this seemed like the perfect time to write my memoir. I’ve become very focused on roots, Americana, blues, folk and other styles from our country’s rich musical heritage, and that’s really where I began before I met Daryl; in the Philly folk and blues scene. So now I feel it’s time to go back and tell the whole story, while also giving readers a rich taste of this music, its history, and how it still affects me to this day. Of course the story of Hall & Oates is an amazing one, and I’ve got some great tales starting with the night I met Daryl, right up until now, almost 50 years later. Thankfully, I kept some pretty detailed journals, and I’m ready to take everyone on a vivid journey across the many musical miles I’ve been so fortunate to have traveled. It should be quite a ride.”
St. Martin’s Press Executive Editor Marc Resnick also expressed his excitement about the project, “We are thrilled to publish John Oates’ incredible story of his life in music. What makes this a special book is not just his fascinating career as a member of the greatest pop duo of all time, but his personal tour of the American music scene–the artists he met and with whom he made music, but also the musicians who came before him and influenced his biggest hits.
About John Oates:
Oates is half of one of rock’s most successful duos, Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. He has sold over 80 million albums, is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and a BMI Icon. In 2014, he (along with Daryl Hall) was inducted in to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and released his fifth solo album, Good Road To Follow. Another Good Road, the companion documentary, debuted on Palladia in January and is now available on CD/DVD.
About St. Martin’s Press:
Founded by Macmillan in London in 1952, St. Martin’s Press is one of the preeminent publishers in the United States. Macmillan Publishers is a global trade book publishing company with prominent imprints around the world. Macmillan publishes a broad range of award-winning books for children and adults in all categories and formats. US publishers include Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Flatiron Books, Henry Holt & Company, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, Picador, St. Martin’s Press and Tor Books. In the UK, Australia, India and South Africa, Macmillan publishes under the Pan Macmillan name. The German company, Holtzbrinck Deutsche Buchverlage, includes among its imprints, S. Fischer, Kiepenheuer and Witsch, Rowohlt and Droemer Knaur. Macmillan Publishers is a division of the Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, a large family-owned media company headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. www.macmillan.com
(Photo Credit: Greg Vorobiov)