Sam Moore, one half of the Grammy Award-winning R&B duo Sam & Dave behind the 1960s hits “Soul Man,” “Hold On I'm Coming” and “I Thank You,” died this morning in Coral Gables, Florida. Age 89.
The cause of death was listed as complications of recovery from surgery.
Born in 1935, Moore grew up in the Overtown and Liberty City neighborhoods of Miami, and began his musical journey in church. After becoming an MC and talent show host at the King O' Hearts Club in Miami, he met Dave Prater, a local baker who tried out for the club's talent show. Thus was the genesis of Sam and Dave, who were eventually inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
After being discovered in late 1964 at a club, where they became known locally, Sam & Dave were signed to Atlantic Records. Jerry Wexler loaned the duo to Stax Records, Atlantic's southern production arm. After that followed a series of successes and international stardom. The duo was so respected that they were among the few stars asked to perform at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Concert at Madison Square Garden in 1968.
Although the group disbanded in 1970, they saw renewed interest thanks to Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi's cover of the Grammy Award-winning song “Soul Man,” performed by The Blues Brothers on Saturday Night Live.
In the 1970s, Moore was re-signed to Atlantic and recorded his own solo album, produced by King Curtis with Donny Hathaway, and featuring Aretha Franklin on piano as a guest artist. However, Curtis was murdered on August 13, 1971, putting the album on hold. Sam and Dave later got together for a few years in the late 1970s, and broke up on New Year's Eve 1982.
Over the years, Moore became a mainstay at the Kennedy Center, performing for six presidents: Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. More than once, Bruce Springsteen has called Moore “the greatest living soul singer on the planet”, and has collaborated with him on several occasions.
curtis album, Lots of good lovingIt was finally released in 2002. In 2006, Moore returned with his first album in thirty years, Overnight sensationalismwhich included Springsteen, Sting, Bon Jovi and others, was produced by American IdolRandy Jackson. He was nominated for a Grammy Award with Billy Preston for their duet “You're So Beautiful.”
In recent years, Moore received a Special Merit Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Grammy Awards and continued to perform until the pandemic. Until his death, Moore was working on a gospel album with Rudy Perez dedicated to his mother, his obituary said.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce McRae, whom he married in 1982, their daughter, Michelle, and grandchildren, Tash and Mischa.
