Sam Moore, One-Half of the Stax Duo Sam & Dave, Dies at 89

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89-year-old Sam Moore, known for blending gospel tones with popular music through his call-and-response hits alongside partner Dave Prater as part of the legendary duo Sam & Dave from Stax Records, has passed away.

On a Friday morning in Coral Gables, Florida, Moore passed away due to issues arising during recovery from surgery, as confirmed by his representative Jeremy Westby.

Known as “the most outstanding soul duo” by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, who inducted them in 1992, Sam & Dave collaborated with the songwriting/production duo of Isaac Hayes and David Porter. They utilized Booker T. & the M.G.’s and the Memphis Horns as their backing band to create a series of unforgettable dance floor hits between 1965 and 1968.

The blending of their skills led to intense back-and-forth discussions, such as “You Don’t Know What I Know,” “Hang On, I’m on My Way,” “You’ve Got Me Hooked,” “Soul Mate” and “I Appreciate You.

Together with fellow labelmate Otis Redding, Sam & Dave were powerhouse live acts who electrified the Stax revues during the mid-1960s, inspiring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi to create their own Ray Ban-donning tribute as The Blues Brothers.

Samuel David Moore, born on October 12, 1935, in Miami, is a church-bred singer known for his work with gospel groups like The Gales and The Millionaires. In 1961, he encountered his future partner at the same location – Miami’s King of Hearts club. Later, they were both discovered by producer Henry Stone and were signed to Roulette Records. Notably, Moore had reportedly declined an opportunity to replace Sam Cooke in The Soul Stirrers earlier in his career. Both Moore and Prater were already seasoned gospel singers when their paths crossed at the club.

Their roulette wins were modest, but their careers really took flight once they were signed by Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records in 1964. They were subsequently lent to Stax for the creation, recording, and distribution of their albums.

In November 1965, the duo released their single “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” which kick-started an impressive run of ten consecutive Top 20 hits on the Billboard R&B chart. Some of these hits were “Hold On, I’m Coming” (1966), “You Got Me Hummin'” (1966), “When Something Is Wrong With My Baby” (1967), “Soul Man” (1967), and “I Thank You” (1968). The majority of these songs were penned by Hayes and Porter themselves.

In 1970, the two individuals who frequently clashed parted ways, marking the end of their collaboration with Stax. Their tumultuous partnership persisted until 1981, experiencing a revival in fame following The Blues Brothers’ rendition of “Soul Man” in 1979. Their final joint performance took place on New Year’s Eve 1981 at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco. Sadly, Prater passed away in a car accident on April 9, 1988.

In 1970, following their initial split, Moore embarked on his solo journey and recorded a number of singles intended for an album with Atlantic Records. However, these recordings remained unreleased until over 30 years later, after the tragic death of the album’s producer, King Curtis.

In the spring of 1982, Moore embarked on a tour alongside other soul artists, among them Wilson Pickett, across Europe. It was during this time that he married Joyce McRae, who played a crucial role in helping him conquer a prolonged drug addiction. Bravely admitting his addiction in 1983, Moore transformed into an ardent anti-drug advocate and dedicated his time to numerous volunteer programs fighting against substance abuse. Until his passing, Joyce managed Moore’s business, working alongside him to champion artists’ rights, royalties, and pension benefits.

As opportunities for solo performances outside of Prater dwindled, Moore faced a situation where he had to sue Prater to stop him from touring as Sam & Dave with another singer named Sam Daniels. Eventually, Moore established an organization called Artists and Others Against Impostors, which aimed to prevent groups from misleading the public by performing without their original members. In 1989, he even testified before Congress about this issue.

1984 saw Moore contributing to Don Henley’s album “Building the Perfect Beast” in a performance for the track “You’re Not Drinking Enough”. Two years later, he teamed up with Lou Reed to re-record “Soul Man”, which was featured in the movie of the same name. This collaboration reached No. 30 on the U.K. singles chart. In 1988, Moore joined the Elwood Blues Revue, a group that included Dan Aykroyd and The Blues Brothers band.

Moore made an appearance in Michael Nesmith’s 1988 satirical film, “Tapeheads”, alongside Junior Walker as the renowned soul duo, The Swanky Modes. They later showcased their performance of “Ordinary Ma” on “Late Night with David Letterman”. This collaboration was a unique union of artists from the Stax and Motown record labels.

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In 1988’s film spoof, “Tapeheads”, Moore teamed up with Junior Walker as part of the legendary soul duo, The Swanky Modes. They performed “Ordinary Ma” on “Late Night With David Letterman”. This pairing was a special instance of artists from the Stax and Motown labels joining forces.

In 1990, Moe embarked on a tour across Europe alongside Booker T & the M.G.’s, Carla Thomas, and Eddie Floyd. A year later in 1991, he collaborated with Lee Atwater, a Republican Party official known for his passion for blues guitar, to record several tracks for the album “Red, Hot & Blues“. In recognition of his significant contributions to rhythm and blues music, Moe was honored with a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm & Blues Foundation that same year.

1992 marked a significant milestone for Sam & Dave as they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Moore invited Hayes, Porter, and David Prater Jr., son of Prater, to join him onstage to celebrate this honor together. In 1992, Moore also collaborated with a prominent fan, Bruce Springsteen, recording several songs for his “Human Touch” album. A year later in 1994, he achieved success with his duet with Conway Twitty titled “Rainy Night In Georgia.”

Moore carried on touring during the ’90s and released “I’m a Dole Man” for Bob Dole’s presidential campaign to play at rallies. However, the publishing company made them discontinue using it. In 1997, he published his autobiography titled “Sam & Dave – An Oral History“, which was co-written with Dave Marsh and provided a truthful perspective on his drug issues.

In 1998’s “Blues Brothers 2000,” Moore made an appearance as Rev. Morris, a role that allowed him to realize his childhood aspiration of being a minister and singing the song “John the Revelator.” Additionally, he took on roles in Armistead Maupin’s PBS series titled “Tales of the City” where he portrayed Rev. Willie Sessums, and he played himself in Paul Simon’s film “One Trick Pony.

In the year 1999, “Soul Man” was honored with a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Later in 2004, Rolling Stone magazine would rank the song among its top 500 all-time greatest tunes.

1971’s long-awaited solo album by Moore, titled “Plenty Good Lovin“, was released in 2002. This record was produced by King Curtis and boasted the talents of Aretha Franklin on piano. In 2003, Moore appeared as a performer at Bruce Springsteen’s Asbury Park Christmas shows. Previously, he was the subject of D.A. Pennebaker’s documentary “Only the Strong Survive“, which delved into his struggles with drug abuse.

Back in 2006, I was thrilled when Moore unveiled his solo masterpiece, “Overnight Sensational,” produced by music legend Randy Jackson. This album was a star-studded affair, with appearances from musical giants like Sting, Mariah Carey, Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, and Fantasia, to name a few. One of the tracks that really stood out was a heartwarming cover of “You Are So Beautiful,” featuring Billy Preston and Eric Clapton. This track even earned a Grammy nomination! To top it all off, I had the privilege of watching Moore perform alongside Springsteen, Elvis Costello, The Edge as part of a tribute to Wilson Pickett during the Grammys’ grand finale that very same year. What an unforgettable musical journey!

At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary concert in 2009, Moore teamed up with Springsteen and The E-Street Band to perform “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin'”. Furthermore, he took the stage at a George Jones tribute concert held within Nashville Arena in 2013.

Beyond his spouse, he is also survived by approximately 14 to 15 children that he fathered from multiple women, as stated during a 2002 interview with The Independent newspaper.

He stated, ‘I’m connected with three or four of them, which is disheartening when you think about the multitude out there.’ He had longed for a bond with his children, but some have opted out, others harbor resentment towards him, or expect financial support. Yet, he empathizes with their choices.

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2025-01-11 06:59