Sam Moore, Vocalist in American Soul Group Sam & Dave, Dead at 89

Fans of an iconic soul duo are mourning the loss of a R&B legend.

As one of the two members that formed the renowned American soul duo Sam & Dave, I’m saddened to share that I, Sam Moore, have taken my final bow. My long-time partner, Dave Prater, and I were responsible for timeless hits such as “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” “Soul Man,” and “Soothe Me.” This news is confirmed by my loving wife and manager, Joyce Moore, to various media sources. At the age of 89, I bid farewell to this world.

On January 10th, the singer passed away at his residence in Coral Gables, Florida, as reported by his wife. She mentioned this occurred following a surgery he underwent earlier that week, although the specific details surrounding his death have not yet been disclosed. Jeremy Westby, representing Sam, informed Rolling Stone that he expired due to complications during recovery from his surgical procedure. However, an official cause of death remains undetermined at this time.

In the 1960s, Sam, much like Dave, was a well-known figure within the R&B scene. Together, they released “Soul Man” which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 upon its release in 1967 and won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Group at the 10th Annual Awards. They were nominated for three more Grammys during their career, and in 2019, they received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Sam expressed during the Grammys backstage, just before receiving the award, that it meant more to him than anything else on Earth. In other words, he was saying that his work – both past and future endeavors – would not be without purpose or meaning.

In 1992, the two-member band was additionally recognized and enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, since Dave had passed away in 1988, Sam accepted the accolades on behalf of the entire group.

Regardless of their chart-topping hits and widespread recognition, Sam consistently asserted that he and Dave had not been particularly close, especially following an incident where Dave shot and wounded Judith T. Gilbert, his wife, in 1968. As reported by the New York Times, this rift deepened after a New Year’s Eve performance in San Francisco in 1981, with the two artists choosing to never engage in conversation again.

After the breakup of the original duo, I brought on board Sam Daniels as their replacement. Meanwhile, the original Sam embarked on a solo career and re-released “Plenty Good Lovin'”, an old track he first recorded in 1970, in 2002.

After the launch of his album, approximately 20 years following Dave’s passing, Sam voiced remorse for not including Dave in the project.

In an interview with The Independent, Sam, who served 18 months in prison for procuring prostitutes before his music career, described the events that followed Dave injuring his wife in 2002. “I decided to take matters into my own hands and act as judge, jury, and enforcer,” he said. “I was the one who instigated the separation. However, I’ve encountered far more malicious and abusive individuals than Dave. After the gun incident, I told Dave that I would continue to work with him musically, but we would never communicate again, not even a single word. So for 12 years, our professional lives intersected, but our personal lives remained completely separate.”

In 1982, Sam wedded his partner who supported him throughout his recovery process. They collectively raised Michelle, Joyce’s daughter, and they now have two grandkids named Tash and Misha.

As I approached the final stages of my life, I joined forces with my spouse in a crusade to restore copyright ownership of songs to musicians and songwriters, as reported by the New York Times. My wife expressed in a 2014 interview that my career was largely fulfilling for me, yet I always yearned to be acknowledged as an individual, separate from Sam & Dave’s hits.

Sam shared with The Independent that for the past 22 years, singing Sam & Dave tracks has felt like a burden around his neck due to his desire to express more. However, he acknowledged that despite this, these are the songs that people continue to request at the end of the night.

2025-01-12 00:17

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