Renowned soul singer Sam Moore, famed as half of the soul duo Sam & Dave, passed away at the age of 89 in Coral Gables, Florida, on January 10, 2025, due to complications from surgery. Joyce Moore, his wife and manager, confirmed his death to Rolling Stone, although the exact cause of death is yet to be determined.
Together with Dave Prater, Moore shaped 1960s soul music with their high-energy performances and series of hits for Stax Records based in Memphis, Tennessee. Known as “Double Dynamite” and “Sultans of Sweat,” the duo emerged as one of the most successful rhythm-and-blues groups of that era.
In 1968, Prater was arrested but not charged after shooting his girlfriend, Judith Gilbert. Moore decided to continue performing with Prater, but their relationship remained strictly professional. For the subsequent 12 years, their lives outside the stage were entirely separate.
Moore told The Independent in 2002, “I initiated the break-up. But I’ve seen very many more evil and abusive men than Dave. After the incident with the gun, I said to Dave, ‘Look, I’ll sing with you, but I’ll never talk to you again, ever.’ So for 12 years, we worked together, but our lives were completely separate.”
A profile by Stax Records highlighted that while the duo communicated on-stage, off-stage they could barely tolerate each other’s presence.
Prior to his partnership with Prater, Moore admitted to working as a pimp. Their relationship was further strained by heavy substance abuse.
Moore was born on October 12, 1935, in Miami, Florida. His musical career began in the church, where he developed his vocal talent in southern gospel music. In 1961, he met Prater at an amateur night at Miami’s King of Hearts Club. When Prater forgot the lyrics to “Doggin’ Around,” Moore joined him on stage, marking their fateful encounter.
After signing with Atlantic Records, the duo moved to Stax Records. Their collaboration with house band Booker T and the MG’s and songwriters Isaac Hayes and David Porter led to ten consecutive top 20 R&B hits, starting with “You Don’t Know Like I Know.”
Their iconic song “Soul Man,” released in 1967, won a Grammy Award and reached No. 2 on the pop charts. The song, reportedly inspired by the civil rights riots in Detroit, Michigan, became a rallying cry during a time of heightened racial unrest.
Behind their vibrant stage performances was a complex personal relationship. The duo split in 1970, though they occasionally reunited until Prater’s death in a 1988 car accident. Moore grappled with cocaine and heroin addiction before eventually achieving sobriety.
Their electrifying performances won them acclaim within the music industry, and their success paved the way for other Black artists to reach white audiences. They created numerous hits, including “Hold On! I’m Comin'” and “I Thank You,” influencing future generations of musicians like Michael Jackson and Al Green.
In the latter part of his career, Moore collaborated with artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, and Mariah Carey. He received several honors, including a 1992 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2019. Across his career, Moore performed for six U.S. presidents and remained an influential voice in music and politics.
At the time of his death, Moore was working on a gospel album. He is survived by his wife Joyce, daughter Michell, and two grandchildren.
