Born in 1935, Samuel David Moore is best known for being one half of the R&B duo Sam & Dave and most notably for their hit songs “Soul Man (1966),” “Hold On, I’m Coming (1967)” and “I Thank You (1968).”
The Miami native died at his home in Coral Gables, Florida on January 10, 2025, following complications recovering from surgery. He was 89.
Tributes immediately poured in far and wide for the soul legend including condolences from Chuck D, the estate of Isaac Hayes, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and Bruce Springsteen who called Moore ‘One of America’s Greatest Soul Voices.’ Like many soul singers, Moore started out singing gospel but despite his church upbringing success only came after living a life on the wrong side of the law which eventually led to time spent in prison.
Moore met Dave Prater, his Sam & Dave partner, at the King of Hearts Club in Miami in 1961. Prater had forgotten the words to a Jackie Wilson song and Moore gave him a boost by singing the lines first. This resulted in their call-and-response signature style singing. The two were signed by Jerry Wexler to Atlantic Records with recordings on the company’s distributed Stax label. Most of their hit singles were written by David Porter and Isaac Hayes who played piano on recordings. Their songs also featured Booker T. and The MGs and The Memphis Horns.
Unfortunately, Sam and Dave’s volatile relationship contributed to the duo’s professional breakup. However, they did reunite on occasion for performances and enjoyed a resurgence in popularity thanks to The Blues Brother’s 1979 recording of “Soul Man.” However, Moore reportedly did have mixed feelings about the song’s association with the Saturday Night Live stars. Sam & Dave last performed together at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco in 1981. Dave Prater died in a car crash in 1988.
During his struggles with drug addiction, Moore performed a lot of oldies shows on cruise ships and once opened for a group of Elvis impersonators. He was also a frequent performer at the Kennedy Center Honors. His wife Joyce helped him overcome his drug addiction which is discussed in the 1997 book Sam & Dave – An Oral History.
In 1992, Moore brought Isaac Hayes, David Porter, and David Prater, Jr. (Dave’s eldest son) onstage with him for the Sam & Dave (posthumously) Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. In 2022, he joined Bruce Springsteen on his album for two songs, “I Forgot to Be Your Lover” and “Soul Days.” Moore once referred to Springsteen as one of his best friends and the two shared the stage together more than once including in 2009 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary concert in New York in 2009.
In 2023, Moore joined a cast of country performers honoring George Jones at the Still Playin’ Possum concert in Huntsville, Alabama where he sang “The Blues Man.”
Sam Moore is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Michell, and two grandchildren.
-Sharon Oliver
Photo: Sam Moore (Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America)
In addition to all of Sam’s great achievements, he also had a 2006 album release called “Overnight Sensational”. This is a terrific album with some guest singers, and great instrumentalists, too. It is well worth tracking down.