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Legendary Soul Singer Sam Moore, Lifelong Patriot and longtime friend of Celebrate Freedom Foundation, Dies at 89

The legendary “Soul Man,” Sam Moore, best known as half of the 1960’s Grammy-winning duo Sam & Dave, passed away Friday morning, Jan. 10 in Coral Gables, FL at the age of 89. The cause of death was due to complications while recovering from surgery.

Moore, who grew up in Miami, began singing in church and drew the attention of another legendary Sam, Sam Cooke, who wanted Moore to replace him in his gospel group The Soul Stirrers. However, after seeing Jackie Wilson perform, Moore shifted from gospel to pop and was performing at the King O’Hearts Club when he met Dave Prater and the two formed Sam & Dave.

Moore performed for six U.S. presidents — Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump — and was a frequent performer at the Kennedy Center Honors.

The song “Soul Man” hit the charts in the late 1970s when the Blues Brothers, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd recorded it with many of the same musicians. Moore had mixed feelings about the hit becoming associated with the “Saturday Night Live” stars, remembering how young people believed it originated with the Blues Brothers, Sam & Dave recorded it in 1967

Survivors and services In addition to his wife, Moore’s survivors include their daughter Michelle Breger and grandchildren Tash and Misha.