Sam Moore (1935-2025)

From Bruce Springsteen:
“Over on E Street, we are heartbroken to hear of the death of Sam Moore, one of America’s greatest soul voices. There simply isn’t another sound like Sam’s soulful tenor in American music. Having had the honor to work with Sam on several occasions, he was a sweet and funny man. 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. We offer our prayers to his wife Joyce and thanks for the immortal recordings Sam left us. God bless.”

From BSACAM Executive Director, Bob Santelli:
“Sam Moore, a member of the inaugural class of American Music Honors, was one of our nation’s greatest soul singers.  In the early 1960s Sam and Dave Prater formed the duo Sam & Dave.  After being discovered by legendary soul producer Jerry Wexler, Sam & Dave inked a contract with Memphis-based Stax Records and helped make soul music a defining sound of the decade.

Under Wexler’s guidance, and with Isaac Hayes and David Porter producing and writing their songs, Sam & Dave became a soul powerhouse duo by mixing gospel, R&B, and blues and perfecting the call and response vocal style in pop music.  Their recordings routinely exceeded the ‘60s soul bar, but it was also their riveting live performances that ranked them with other legendary soul greats such as James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and Otis Redding.

Sam & Dave classics such as “I Thank You,” “Soul Man,” “Hold On, I’m Comin’” and “Wrap It Up” are part of the nation’s exceedingly rich soul music treasury.  Having the opportunity to honor and celebrate Sam Moore was one of the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music’s most cherished early memories.” (Dave Prater died in 1988.)

Watch one of Sam’s performance at the 2023 American Music Honors held at Monmouth University’s Pollak Theater.