Mr BioFile Interviews by Scoop Malinowski
By Mark Scoop Malinowski
Status: Guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer. Co-creator of the legendary group Hall & Oates, the successful duo in pop rock history, which recorded 21 albums and sold over 80 million units worldwide. They created ten number one records and over twenty top 40 hits Oates was inducted into Songwriter’s Hall of Fame in 2004 and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
DOB: April 7, 1948 In: New York, NY
First memory of music: Listening to the Make Believe Ballroom radio show in my parents car on the drive from Pennsylvania to New York in the early 50s.
Inspirations: Chuck Berry, Little Richard, The Everly Brothers, and Elvis laid the foundation. And the regional sounds cracking out of the AM radio.
Last book read: 365 Tao.
Favorite movies: Mostly non-fiction and history related.
First famous person you met or encountered: I saw Bill Haley & The Comets perform live when I was four years old.
Childhood dreams: Learning to play the guitar and learning to drive.
Greatest moment of career: Right now. Because I’m still doing what I love after all these years.
Most painful career moment: Not paying attention to the business side of music.
Most memorable performance: The next one!
Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate.
Favorite artists: Chuck Berry. Curtis Mayfield. Mississippi John Hurt. Joni Mitchell. The Band.
Funny career memory: I was sitting alone in my dressing room and some guy walked in and said, ‘Which one of you guys is Hall and Oates?’
Embarrassing career memory: Can’t remember, too depressing.
Favorite venues: Madison Square Garden. Budokan Tokyo, Japan Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. Station Inn Nashville.. Wheeler Opera House Aspen, Colorado.
People qualities most admired: Honesty. Self-reliance. Vision. And work ethic.
