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 (with music partner John 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 did not like them. He would skip the lessons and rode 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 first met John Oates at a band competition. After John transferred to a different school, Daryl joined the band Gulliver, which released one eponymous album in 1969 before being dropped from their label. 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.

[edit] Solo projects

Cover of Daryl's first solo album, Sacred Songs

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 of the electic-pop duo group Eurythmics. 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.

Cover of the "Soul Alone" album (1993)

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. In 1994 he released a duet with Dusty Springfield, Wherever Would I Be?, which charted in the UK, and was featured in the movie While You Were Sleeping.

On the occasion of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in United States, Daryl Hall sung the official anthem of the event with a gospel group called Sound of Blackness Gloryland [1]. Daryl Hall has also released a fourth solo album called Can't Stop Dreaming and fifth Live In Philadelphia compilation. He is also featured on Kenny G's " At Last...The Duets Album" doing a collaboration with the saxophonist of James Ingram's "Baby, Come To Me".

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 released a Christmas album with John Oates in October, 2006 called Home For Christmas.