An Evening of Stories & Songs



(SOUTH ORANGE, NJ) — South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) presents John Oates: An Evening of Stories & Songs on Friday, November 3, 2023 at 8:00pm. Sit back and experience a unique acoustic performance by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and American Songwriter Hall of Fame artist John Oates as he takes you on a musical time trip.

This acoustic, one-on-one performance touches on the roots of American Pop music from pre Rock and Roll to the present woven together with fascinating insight and humor. Performing million seller hits from the past as well as new songs framed with the back stories of how they were written, Oates takes the audience on a intimate sonic journey that has been described as: “Musically sophisticated, carefully crafted and throughly entertaining”. This is music as it was meant to be enjoyed…authentic, organic, and full of surprises. Come experience it for yourself.

Tickets start at $65 and are available for purchase online.

John Oates is known as one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist.  He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The American Songwriters Hall of Fame, recipient of the prestigious BMI Icon Award, as well as numerous American Music, MTV awards, and multiple Grammy nomination.

Since forming his creative partnership with Daryl Hall in the early 1970s, they have gone on to record 21 albums, which have sold over 80 million units, making them the most successful duo in rock history.  They have scored 10 number one records, over 20 “Top 40” hits, and have toured the world for decades.  Their involvement in the original “Live Aid” concert and the groundbreaking “We Are The World” charity recording have further established them as legendary artists, who have personally and through music, stood the test of time.

Since embarking on a solo career in 1999, John Oates has recorded seven solo albums: Phunk Shui, 100 Miles of Life, Mississippi Mile, The Bluesville Sessions, Good Road To Follow, Arkansas, and Live from Nashville with the Good Road Band.  In addition, his 2017 autobiography Change of Season, released by St. Martin’s press, became an Amazon bestseller.

In 2023, Oates will be releasing a series of new original digital singles distributed by “The Orchard” in a wide variety of eclectic styles, as well as another series of songs from the upcoming feature film Gringa (to be released soon).

South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) is located at One SOPAC Way in South Orange, New Jersey. SOPAC offers audiences exhilarating and diverse arts entertainment in its intimate venue, serving as the cultural heartbeat of the greater South Orange/Maplewood region and contributing to the economic and social vibrancy of its highly diverse community.

SOPAC is an accessible cultural destination that presents world-class artists in an intimate and welcoming environment. The Jennifer & Tony Leitner Performance Hall is a 439-seat mainstage theatre with superb acoustics, sight lines and seating. Audiences remark that performances in this space are like having their favorite artists right in their own living room. Artists acknowledge that the atmosphere encourages conversations with audiences. The Loft at SOPAC is a 2,185 square-foot multi-purpose space used for performances, rehearsals, classes and special events.