Sam Moore, renowned for singing 'Soul Man' in the Sam & Dave duo, passes away at 89
Sam Moore, the iconic voice from the 1960s duo Sam & Dave, famous for timeless tracks like "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I’m Comin’," has passed away. He was 89 years old.
His publicist, Jeremy Westby, confirmed that Moore died Friday morning in Coral Gables, Florida, following complications during surgical recovery. Further details remain undisclosed.
Moore's influence reached legends such as Michael Jackson, Al Green, and Bruce Springsteen. In 1992, he and his partner Dave Prater were enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
At Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee, Moore and Prater were second only to Otis Redding. They took the "call and response" style of gospel and morphed it into electrifying performances, creating soul classics like “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” “When Something is Wrong With My Baby,” and “I Thank You.”
Their hits were largely crafted by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, with the Stax house band Booker T. & the MGs, whose guitarist Steve Cropper famously earned a shoutout in "Soul Man."
As with many '60s soul groups, Sam & Dave's prominence waned after the decade. Yet "Soul Man" found new life in the late 1970s when the Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, recorded it with original musicians. Moore had mixed emotions about this rendition, noting younger audiences thought the song originated with the comedians.
In 2008, the film “Soul Men” featured characters strikingly similar to Sam & Dave. Moore's lawsuit over the likeness was unsuccessful.
He also engaged in legal battles with Prater, who toured as the New Sam & Dave with another singer. Prater died in a car accident in Georgia in 1988.
Moore fought for his rights against the recording industry, claiming deprivation of retirement benefits. Alongside other artists, he sued several record companies and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists in 1993.
In a 1994 interview, Moore expressed disbelief at his pension, which totaled a mere $2,285. "Two thousand dollars for my lifetime?" he questioned. "If you’re making a profit off of me, give me some too. Don’t give me cornbread and tell me it’s biscuits."
For Bob Dole's 1996 presidential campaign, Moore penned “Dole Man,” inspired by "Soul Man." In 2017, he was among the few performers at Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Previously, he had protested against Barack Obama's use of "Hold On, I’m Comin’" during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Born on October 12, 1935, in Miami, Moore began singing in church. He met Prater in 1961 in Miami, quickly forming a popular local act. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1965, they were sent to Stax in Memphis by producer Jerry Wexler.
Moore and Prater often clashed, and Moore revealed in 2006 that his drug addiction contributed to their conflicts and later hindered his career. The duo disbanded in 1970, with neither achieving subsequent major success.
In 1982, he married Joyce, who was instrumental in his recovery from addiction, a turning point he credits with saving his life.
Reflecting on his struggles, Moore recounted performing on cruise ships and oldies shows, even opening for Elvis impersonators. He recalled auditioning for gigs despite his fame. "But you know what? You keep your mouth shut and you get up there and you sing as hard and perform as hard as you can," he shared. "I’m laughing about it now, but at that time, man, it was really serious."
Moore continued to record and perform, frequently appearing at the Kennedy Center Honors and entertaining presidents, including Obama.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce, a daughter, and two grandchildren.
