John Oates is one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Oates embarked on a long-awaited solo career in 1999. He has recorded six solo albums and the 2015 DVD docu-concert Another Good Road. His seventh project, Arkansas, will be released by Thirty Tigers in February..

Influenced by R&B and folk music while growing up near Philadelphia, Oates was honored as a BMI Icon in 2008. In 2016, Hall & Oates received a star on the Hollywood of Fame. In addition to his solo shows, Oates continues to tour with Daryl Hall, playing sold-out concerts around the world. St. Martin’s Press released the hardcover of Oates’ memoir, Change of Seasons, in March 2017; the paperback will be released in 2018. Oates resides in Nashville.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member John Oates has teamed with an amazing group of accomplished and rising stars in the Americana music world to bring his new album, Arkansas, to life. Scheduled for a February release, the project is his first for Thirty Tigers.

The sonic glue that holds the project together is called the Good Road Band. An impressive lineup consisting of Sam Bush on mandolin, Russ Pahl on pedal steel, Guthrie Trapp on electric guitar, Steve Mackey on bass, Nat Smith on cello, and Josh Day on drums and percussion.

The project originally began as a tribute to Oates’ idol, Mississippi John Hurt. Then expanded and evolved organically to include other songs that were contemporary with John Hurt’s early recording career in the 1920s and 30s before his re-discovery during the folk revival of the 1960s. This unique collection of songs were captured during a series of Nashville recording sessions and draw from a wide range of Oates’ musical influences. Asked about the style and sound of Arkansas, he says, “It’s like Dixieland, dipped in bluegrass, and salted with Delta blues.”

With this incredible band, Oates shines a light on music from America’s past long before the birth of rock ‘n’ roll. Fresh interpretations include the Emmett Miller classic “Anytime” from 1924 as well as the Jimmie Rodgers tune, “Miss the Mississippi and You,” from 1932. Reimagined traditional Delta, country blues and ragtime selections salute legendary artists like Mississippi John Hurt and Blind Blake.

The title track “Arkansas” and “Dig Back Deep” both John Oates original compositions, blend seamlessly with the traditional roots material. Taken together, this record becomes a retrospective of American popular song.

Review copies of the album are available upon request. In stores on February 2, the release will be available in digital, CD and 180 gram vinyl.