Daryl Franklin Hohl, professionally known as Daryl Hall (born October 11, 1946), is an American rock, R&B and soul singer, keyboardist, guitarist, songwriter and producer, best known as the co-founder and lead vocalist of Hall & Oates (with guitarist and songwriter John Oates).
In the 1970s and early 1980s, Hall scored several Billboard chart hits and is regarded as one of the best soul singers of his generation. Guitarist Robert Fripp, who collaborated with him in the late 1970s and early 1980s, has written, “Daryl’s pipes were a wonder. I have never worked with a more able singer.” Since late 2007, he has hosted the web television series, Live from Daryl’s House. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.
Daryl Franklin Hohl was born in Pottstown, a Pennsylvania borough 40 miles (64 km) from Philadelphia. His parents each had a background in music: his father was a professional singer and his mother was a vocal coach. He started recording while still a student at Owen J. Roberts High School, from which he graduated in 1965. In college at Temple University in Philadelphia, he majored in Music, while continuing to record, working with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff as both an artist and a session musician. During his first semester at Temple, in the fall of 1965, he and four other white Temple University students formed the vocal harmony group the Temptones. They were popular additions to the largely black Philly soul scene, defeating both The Ambassadors and The Delfonics in a contest at the Uptown Theater. The Temptones recorded a handful of singles for Arctic Records, produced by Jimmy Bishop. While performing at the Uptown theatre, Hall formed creative affiliations with such artists as Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and many other top soul singers of the 1960s.
In 1967, he met John Oates, who was also an undergraduate at Temple University. According to Daryl Hall, they met when “We got in the middle of a fight at a dance – I have no idea what the fight was about. I guess the Greek letters on one gang’s jackets didn’t appeal to the other gang. We both beat it out the back and met on the elevator while leaving the place rather quickly.” Hall was by then a senior, while Oates was a freshman. They played together until Oates transferred to a different school at age 19. Daryl did not let Oates’s departure discourage him from pursuing his own musical career: he dropped out of college in 1968 and worked with Tim Moore in a short-lived rock band, Gulliver, and released an album on the Elektra Records label. In 1969, Hall again began recording songs by other artists, which led to the duo signing their first record contract in early 1972.
Signed to Atlantic by Ahmet Ertegun and managed by Tommy Mottola in the early 1970s, Hall & Oates have sold more albums than any other duo in music history[citation needed]. Their second album, Abandoned Luncheonette, produced by Arif Mardin and released in 1973, yielded the single, “She’s Gone”, which went to No. 7 in the U.S. Top 10 on re-release in 1976 after reaching No. 1 on the R&B charts when it was covered by Tavares. The duo recorded one more album with Atlantic, War Babies (produced by Todd Rundgren), before they were dropped and promptly signed to RCA. During their tenure at RCA the duo catapulted to international superstardom.
From the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s, Hall & Oates scored six U.S. No. 1 singles, including “Rich Girl” (also No. 1 R&B), “Kiss on My List”, “Private Eyes”, “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” (also No. 1 R&B), “Maneater” and “Out of Touch” from their six multi-platinum albums – Bigger Than Both of Us, Voices, Private Eyes, H2O, Rock ‘n Soul Part 1 and Big Bam Boom – the last five of which were released consecutively. The era also produced an additional six U.S. Top 10 singles, “Sara Smile”, “One on One”, “Family Man,” “You Make My Dreams,” “Say It Isn’t So” and “Method of Modern Love”.
The duo released a Christmas album in October 2006 titled Home for Christmas. The duo were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.
In addition to his work with Oates, Hall has made music as a solo artist, as well as recording with Robert Fripp in the late ‘70s, working on Fripp’s critically praised Exposure album from 1979. In 1977 Fripp produced and performed on Hall’s debut solo album, the much-acclaimed Sacred Songs. This album was released in 1980.
In 1984, he co-wrote and produced, with Arthur Baker, the single “Swept Away” for Diana Ross, which reached US No. 19, US R & B No. 3 and US Dance/Club Play No. 1.
In 1985, Hall performed two songs in the first Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois. Hall participated in the We Are the World session as well as closing the Live Aid show in Philadelphia. He also made an album with Dave Stewart that year, Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine. He has recorded such solo works as Soul Alone in 1993 and Can’t Stop Dreaming in 1996, both of which were received well internationally. In 1994 composed “Gloryland” that was the Original Soundtrack of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
In 2007, Hall guest starred on the HBO series Flight of the Conchords, playing an MC of a “world music” festival.
On March 12, 2008, Hall played a well-received set with his band at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas.
Hall was slated to sing the National Anthem of the United States before Game 5 of the 2008 World Series at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park but, due to an illness, could not appear, and Oates sang it instead.
In 2009, Hall guest starred on the Independent Film Channel series, Z-Rock (as himself).
In 2010, Hall was back in the studio working on a solo recording with bassist and musical director, T-Bone Wolk. Wolk died of a heart attack on February 28, 2010, hours after completing a session with Hall. Hall released a statement about the death of his bassist of nearly 30 years: “It’s not if I will go on, but how? T-Bone was one of the most sensitive and good human beings that I have ever known.”
On June 11, 2010, Hall shared the stage with electronic duo Chromeo for a special late night set at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. Their set consisted of a mix of both Hall & Oates and Chromeo tracks. On September 27, 2011 he released the album Laughing Down Crying on Verve Records.
On August 12, 2011, UK Electronic duo Nero released their debut album “Welcome Reality”, which features guest vocals by Hall on the track “Reaching Out”, which also samples Hall & Oates’ 80’s hit Out of Touch. Reaching Out was released as the sixth single on December 6, 2011.
Hall has written or co-written 11 Billboard Number One songs, “She’s Gone” (with John Oates as covered by Tavares), “Rich Girl”, “Kiss On My List” (with Janna Allen), “Private Eyes” (with Sara Allen, Janna Allen & Warren Pash), “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” (with John Oates & Sara Allen), “Say It Isn’t So”, “Maneater” (with John Oates & Sara Allen), “Out of Touch” (with John Oates), “Everytime You Go Away” (which reached #1 when covered by Paul Young) and “Do It For Love” (with John Oates).
Hall also sang lead vocals and has written or co-written eight more popular Billboard songs that also made it to the Top 10, such as: “Adult Education” (with John Oates & Sara Allen), “Sara Smile” (with John Oates – a song that refers to Hall’s ex-girlfriend), “Method of Modern Love” (with Janna Allen), “You Make My Dreams” (with John Oates & Sara Allen), “Everything Your Heart Desires”, “One on One”, “So Close” (with Jon Bon Jovi & Danny Kortchmar) and “Did It in a Minute” (with Sara Allen & Janna Allen). He has also had hits as a vocalist, reaching No. 12 with his 1980 rendition of The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” and No. 6 with 1983’s “Family Man,” written by Mike Oldfield.
More information at the Hall & Oates official website.
Discography
Before After
Sony Music 2022
Tracks: Disc One: Dreamtime, Babs And Babs, Foolish Pride, Can't Stop Dreaming, Here Comes The Rain Again (Live From Daryl’s House), Someone Like You, Talking to You (Is Like Talking to Myself), Sacred Songs, Right As Rain, Survive, North Star (Live From Daryl’s House), In My Own Dream (Live From Daryl’s House), NYCNY & What's Gonna Happen To Us. Disc Two: Love Revelation, Fools Rush In, I'm In A Philly Mood, Send Me, Justify, Borderline, Stop Loving Me Stop Loving You, Eyes For You (Ain’t No Doubt About It), The Farther Away I Am, Why Was It So Easy, Can We Still Be Friends (Live From Daryl’s House), Cab Driver, Our Day Will Come (Live From Daryl’s House), Laughing Down Crying (Live From Daryl’s House), Problem With You (Live From Daryl’s House) & Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be the First to Say Goodbye) (Live From Daryl’s House).
Laughing Down Crying
Verve Forecast 2011
Tracks: Laughing Down Crying, Talking to You (Is Like Talking to Myself), Lifetime of Love, Eyes for You (Ain't No Doubt About It), Save Me, Message to Ya, Wrong Side of History (So Cold), Get Out of the Way, Crash and Burn & Problem with You (Bone's Last Ride).
Musicians on the Laughing Down Crying album: Daryl Hall, Greg Bieck and others.
Can´t Stop Dreaming
Liquid 8 Records 2003
Tracks: Can't Stop Dreaming, Let Me Be The One, Something About You, Cab Driver, Never Let Me Go, Holding Out For Love, Justify, What's In Your World, Hold On To Me, She's Gone, All By Myself & Fools Rush In.
Musicians on the Can´t Stop Dreaming album: Daryl Hall, Bob Mayo, Dan Huff, Paul Livant, Wah Wah Watson, Alan Gorrie, Craig Ross, Ray Fuller, Roger Ball, Andy Snitzer, Dan Shea, David Bellochio, Buster, Shovani, Jack Daley, T Bone Wolk, Steve Wolf, Jerry Krenach, Peter Moshay, Rupert Brown, Lujuann Carter, Alexis England, Klyde Jones & Sandy B.
What´s In Your World
BMG Records 1997
Tracks: What's in Your World, Cab Driver (Live) & Can't Stop Dreaming (Live).
Musicians on the What's in Your World album: Daryl Hall and others.
Can´t Stop Dreaming
BMG Records 1996
Tracks: Can't Stop Dreaming, Let Me Be The One, Something About You, Cab Driver, Never Let Me Go, Holding Out For Love, Justify, What's In Your World, Hold On To Me, She's Gone, All By Myself & Fools Rush In.
Musicians on the Can´t Stop Dreaming album: Daryl Hall, Bob Mayo, Dan Huff, Paul Livant, Wah Wah Watson, Alan Gorrie, Craig Ross, Ray Fuller, Roger Ball, Andy Snitzer, Dan Shea, David Bellochio, Buster, Shovani, Jack Daley, T Bone Wolk, Steve Wolf, Jerry Krenach, Peter Moshay, Rupert Brown, Lujuann Carter, Alexis England, Klyde Jones & Sandy B.
Soul Alone
Epic Records 1993
Tracks: Power Of Seduction, This Time, Love Revelation, I'm In A Philly Mood, Borderline, Stop Lovin' Me Stop Lovin' You, Help Me Find A Way To Your Heart, Send Me, Wildlife, Money Changes Everything & Written In Stone.
Musicians on the Soul Alone album: Daryl Hall, Jeffrey V. Smith, Tag, The London Session Orchestra, Phil Todd, Peter Lord Moreland, Frank Riccotti, Alan Gorrie, Bob Bitsand, T-Bone Wolk, Bernard Davis, Trevor Murrell, Miles Bould, Mel Wesson, Sandra St. Victor, Tee Green, Lorna Bannon & Lorraine McIntosh.
Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine
RCA Records 1986
Tracks: Dreamtime, Only a Vision, I Wasn't Born Yesterday, Someone Like You, Next Step, For You, Foolish Pride, Right as Rain, Let It Out & What's Gonna Happen to Us.
Musicians on the Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine Album: Daryl Hall and others.
Sacred Songs
RCA Records 1980
Tracks: Sacred Songs, Something In 4-4 Time, Babs And Babs, Urban Landscape, NYCNY, The Farther Away I Am, Why Was It So Easy, Don't Leave Me Alone With Her, Survive & Without Tears.
Musicians on the Sacred Songs album: Daryl Hall, Robert Fripp, Caleb Quaye, Tony Levin, Kenny Passarelli, Brian Eno, Daryl Hall, Phil Collins, Roger Pope, Charlie Drachen, Charles DeChant & David Kent.