Aries season is a very busy period in music history. And it continues through April:
- The 75th anniversary of the birth of the legendary Gil Scott-Heron was on April 1
- The 85th anniversary of the birth of R&B and soul legend Marvin Gaye was on April 2
- The 111th anniversary of the birth of legendary bluesman Muddy Waters was on April 4
- Pharrell Williams celebrated his 51st birthday on April 5
- One of the most beloved figures of the Outlaw Country movement,
- Merle Haggard was born 84 years ago on April 6
- Robert Glasper celebrated his 46th birthday on April 6
- The 109th anniversary of Billie Holiday‘s birth was on April 7
John Oates, of Daryl Hall and John Oates fame celebrates his 75th birthday. For those of you Gen Z’ers who weren’t around then: There was period between roughly 1981-1986 when these guys were the hottest shit on the face of the earth. They’re arguably one of the most successful pop duos of their era, if not ever.
And if you were around then, you were grooving to most — if not all — of these songs. Certainly, as a child of the 80s, John Oates’ work with Hall and Oates (I’m referring to them as I remember them) was a part of some of my earliest and fondest memories.
But by far, “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” is the song that I think holds up the most. And hilariously the hook for “Modern of Method Love” inspired the hook to Wu Tang Clan’s “Method Man.”
Happy birthday, John!
