Sam Moore: music legend and “Soul Man” singer has died

Soul icon Sam Moore (1935-2025), one half of the Grammy-winning duo Sam & Dave, died on Friday (January 10) at the age of 89. Moore died after an operation at his home in Florida earlier this week, the cause of death has not yet been determined.

The singer enjoyed great success with his partner Dave Prater (1937-1988) with hits such as “Soul Man” and “Hold On! I’m Comin”. Prater died in a car accident in 1988. According to US media reports, the artists were known for their energetic live performances and were among the top acts on the legendary Memphis label Stax Records in the 1960s.

Her 1967 song “Soul Man” won a Grammy. The later “Blues Brothers” hit not only topped the R&B charts, but also landed at number two on the pop charts, as the “New York Times” reports.

Sam Moore and Dave Prater are said to have only gotten along well on stage, according to media reports. They are said to have avoided each other behind the scenes. They initially parted ways in 1970, but before Prater’s death the two musicians performed together several more times. Their last performance as a duo was in San Francisco in 1981.

Sam Moore started his solo career in the 1970s and is said to have struggled with drug problems for a while in the past. The music star has worked with famous artists throughout his career, including Bruce Springsteen (75), Elton John (77), Phil Collins (73), Lou Reed (1942-2013) and Mariah Carey (55). Moore, who is originally from Miami, also sang at the first inauguration of Donald Trump (78) in Washington in 2017.