Daryl Hall
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Daryl Hall (born Daryl Franklin Hohl on October 11, 1946, Pottstown, Pennsylvania) is half of the music duo Hall & Oates. His mother played songs by Frank Sinatra to him as a child, and he later became a fan of Motown and other R&B/soul music. He took piano lessons as a child, but he didn't like them. He would skip the lessons and ride his bicycle across the bridge from his grandfather's farm over to the heart of the black "Chicken Hill" ghetto, where he could just listen and absorb the music.
In the 1960s he attended Temple University, but did not graduate, preferring instead to spend his time singing on the street corners. At that time, Daryl Hohl (as he was called then) sang backup for different bands. He eventually changed his last name to Hall. Daryl Hall idolized the Temptations and began to perform session work. He was a member of the band Gulliver, who released one album in 1969 before being dropped from their label. He first met John Oates at a band competition. After John transferred to a different school, Daryl joined the band Gulliver, which produced one eponymous album before disbanding. Hall & Oates was formed in 1972, when John returned to Philadelphia.
For information on the collaborative works of Daryl Hall & John Oates, see Hall & Oates.
Solo projects
In 1977, RCA first attempted to push Daryl Hall to the front with his first solo effort, Sacred Songs, produced by Robert Fripp. RCA was concerned about the uncommercial nature of the album, however, and it was not released until 1980, after Hall and Fripp passed out demos to radio stations, forcing the issue. The album was reminiscent of experimenters such as David Bowie and Brian Eno.
Hall & Oates went on a break after the 1985 tour. Hall was influenced to go to England and meet with Dave Stewart. The resulting solo album Hall released was Three Hearts In The Happy Ending Machine. It included a #5 hit "Dreamtime" and a Top 40 hit with "Foolish Pride." It also contained perhaps a hint of Hall's future solo projects, with the song "Someone Like You." Despite Stewart's co-production and guest background vocals from Joni Mitchell and Bob Geldof, RCA considered this album a commercial disappointment. It should be noted, however, that RCA did not promote this album at the level of the Hall & Oates' previous albums, which upset Hall for years afterward. This was also the last album in the RCA deal with Hall & Oates.
In 1993, Daryl Hall released his third solo album on Epic, called Soul Alone. Distinct from the "Hall & Oates sound," this album features a more soulful and jazzy feel. However, Epic failed to find a marketing niche for Hall's new sound. Despite one single being released, ("Philly Mood"), the album was not a commercial success. That same year he released a duet with Dusty Springfield which charted in the UK.
In ocassion of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in United States, Daryl Hall sung the official anthem of the event with a gopsel group called Sound of Blackness Gloryland'' [link] Daryl Hall has also released a fourth solo album called Can't Stop Dreaming and fifth Live In Philadelphia compilation.
In July 2005 Hall was diagnosed with Lyme Disease causing him to cancel a majority of Hall & Oates' summer tour. Hall has reported that he is feeling better and he continues to tour with John Oates. Hall is also working on a Christmas album with John Oates due out in fall 2006.
Discography
- Sacred Songs (1980)
- Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine (1986)
- Soul Alone (1993)
- Can't Stop Dreaming (1996)
- Live in Philadelphia (2004)
External links
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