Sam Moore

Samuel David Moore (October 12, 1935 – January 10, 2025) was an American singer who was best known as a member of the soul and R&B duo Sam & Dave from 1961 to 1981. He was a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame (for "Soul Man"), the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

Moore was known for his work as Sam of the soul music duo Sam & Dave, where he was the higher tenor voice. He performed in concerts ranging from the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary party in 1988 to the New Orleans Jazz Festival and the SXSW Music Industry conference in 2006. Moore performed in, among others, a tribute to Elvis Presley in 1994, the Grammy Awards 2006 tribute to Wilson Pickett, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006 for Smokey Robinson. He worked with other famous recording artists including Conway Twitty, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Elton John, Phil Collins, Lou Reed, Mariah Carey, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart, and with others in live and recorded performances.

Music critic Dave Marsh, a close friend of Moore and the editor and co-writer of Moore's book, described him in 2002 as "the greatest living Soul singer." In 2006, Moore received a MOBO (Music of Black Origin) lifetime achievement award in the United Kingdom.

Sam Moore was born Samuel David Hicks on October 12, 1935 in Miami, Florida, the son of John Hicks and Louise (née Robinson). His mother was a teacher. His parents later divorced, and when his mother remarried, Moore took the surname of his stepfather. He is said to have followed the example of his feckless father, who was described as "a tireless womanizer," and while still in school "bedded three of his teachers" and fathered his first child at the age of 16. He survived being shot in the leg by a jealous husband. He also sang in a Baptist church choir and in gospel and doo-wop groups.

Sam Moore and Dave Prater were both experienced gospel music singers, having performed separately with groups the Sensational Hummingbirds and the Melionaires. They met in The King of Hearts Club in Miami in 1961, where they were discovered by regional producer Henry Stone, who signed them to Roulette Records. After modest success at Roulette, they were signed by Jerry Wexler to Atlantic Records in 1964 and were "loaned" out to Stax Records to produce, record, and release their albums. Moore was at first disappointed not to be recording in the label's New York studios, but the Stax style of "gritty funk" turned out to be perfectly suited to their gospel-inspired vocals and enabled them to develop their "southern soul" sound.

Biography summary from English Wikipedia, photograph via Wikimedia Commons.