Sam Moore of Sam & Dave dead at 89

Sam Moore, the tenor half of the iconic soul duo Sam & Dave, has died. He was 89.

A statement from Moore’s rep shares that he passed away on Friday in his Florida home due to complications recovering from surgery.

Born Oct. 12, 1935, Moore began recording music in the ’50s. After meeting baritone Dave Prater, they formed Sam & Dave, and put out their first music in the early ’60s.

Upon being signed to the legendary label Stax Records, Sam & Dave released their debut album, 1966’s Hold On, I’m Comin’, which spawned the hit title track. Subsequent hits included the Grammy-winning “Soul Man” and “I Thank You.”

Sam & Dave broke up in 1970 but reunited shortly thereafter, only to split again for good after a final show on New Year’s Ever 1981. Prater died in 1988.

In between the break-ups, Moore had recorded a solo album with producer King Curtis, though it was shelved after Curtis was murdered in 1971. The record was finally released in 2002, and Moore put out another solo album, Overnight Sensational, in 2006.

Moore was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of Sam & Dave in 1992. The duo was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.