traditions regardless of what era
or what style. America is rich with
an incredible music tradition and
this is a small part of it. A part
that I understand and have a lot
of experience with. I feel like I
bring authenticity to it, but, at the
same time, I don’t want to live in
the past so it’s a balancing act
between that. This is the record I
have always wanted to make, with
the band to bring it to life. After
all these years, I feel I’ve finally
been able to capture the sound
that’s in my head.”
It’s the sound he grew up listening
to ever since the older brother of a
friend of his returned from college
at Christmas vacation with a stack
of folk albums. Oates, who had
initially started out playing songs
by artists like Chuck Berry and Little
Richard, found himself immersed
in the music of Pete Seeger, Joan
Baez, Dave Van Ronk, and Doc
Watson. He started seeing those
artists perform when they came
through Philadelphia. Eventually
he met the blues guitarist Jerry
Ricks who was friends with those
Watch John Oates perform “Mississippi Mile” in concert
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 54
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