Sam Moore, the surviving member and higher voice of the legendary 1960s duo Sam & Dave, known for hits like “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” has passed away at the age of 89. Moore, born on October 12, 1935, in Miami, started his musical journey singing in church.
Moore’s publicist, Jeremy Westby, confirmed that he died on Friday morning in Coral Gables, Florida, from complications while recovering from surgery. Further details haven’t been released yet.
Sam Moore’s incredible voice earned him fans from all walks of life, including the likes of Al Green and Bruce Springsteen. In 1992, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside his partner, Dave Prater.
Springsteen paid tribute to Moore on Instagram Saturday, saying, “Over on E Street, we are heartbroken to hear of the death of Sam Moore, one of America’s greatest soul voices. He was filled with stories of the halcyon days of soul music, and to the end had that edge of deep authenticity in his voice I could only wonder at.”
Moore and Prater made their mark at Stax Records in Memphis, second only to Otis Redding in the label’s ranks. They brought gospel’s “call and response” style to the stage in an electrifying way, and recorded timeless soul hits like “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby,” and “I Thank You.” Most of their classics were written and produced by Isaac Hayes and David Porter, with the Stax house band, Booker T. & the MGs, backing them up. Guitarist Steve Cropper even got a shoutout in “Soul Man,” with the iconic “Play it, Steve!”
Like many soul acts of the ’60s, Sam & Dave faded from the limelight as the decade ended. But “Soul Man” made a huge comeback in the late 1970s when it was featured in The Blues Brothers movie, performed by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd with many of the same musicians. Moore had mixed feelings about the resurgence, especially when younger audiences mistakenly believed the song was originally theirs.
In 2008, the film Soul Men—about two aging, estranged singers—was widely seen as inspired by Sam & Dave. Moore lost a lawsuit over the similarities, but his legacy in soul music remained untarnished.
Sam Moore’s influence will continue to resonate in the music world, his voice forever a defining element of classic soul.
