As one half of soul music’s “Dynamic Duo” Sam & Dave, Sam Moore used his fiery tenor and energetic stage presence to solidify a soul legacy that lives on today.

On October 12, 1935 Sam Moore was born in Miami, Florida. Moore grew up singing gospel in the gritty south and by the 1950’s he was a regular on the local R&B/soul club circuit. It was in a Miami club named King Of Hearts where Moore would meet his musical soulmate David Prater. As the host of an amateur night affair, Moore helped Prater through his shaky performance of Jackie Wilson’s “Dogging Around.” The two discovered they worked well together on-stage and they formed an act called Sam & Dave.

In 1965, the duo signed with Atlantic Records and was placed on the label’s Memphis-based imprint Stax Records. That’s where under the guidance of the producers Isaac Hayes and David Porter, Sam & Dave went on to become arguably the greatest soul music duo ever. There strig of hits included “Soul Man,” “Hold on, I’m Coming,” and “I Thank You.” Their sweat-drenched gospel-tinged tunes would inspire a plethora of music stars to follow. Bruce Springsteen, Al Green, Tom Petty, Phil Collins, Michael Jackson, Elvis Costello, Teddy Pendergrass, Billy Joel and the Blues Brothers.

The Blues Brothers famously remade Sam & Dave’s 1967 classic “Soul Man” in 1978. The was originally inspired by the turmoil of the 1960’s Civil Rights movement.

Before “Soul Man” Sam & Dave made their biggest mark on the charts with “Hold on, I’m Coming,” which was voted the #1 R&B song of 1966 by Billboard.

Sam & Dave’s influence also was felt in Hollywood as the inspired the 1986 comedy “Soul Man” and “Soul Men” a 2008 comedy staring Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson.

David Prater . Isaac Hayes . R&B . Sam & Dave . Sam Moore . Soul . Soul Men Soul Legends