Legendary Sam Moore - Grammy Winner, Early Member of the Rock Hall of Fame - Dead at 89
Soul Man Sam Moore passed away this morning in Coral Gables, Florida. He was 89. The cause of death was complications recovering from surgery. Moore — with his trademark tenor that distinctively rose through every song he performed — was half of the Grammy winning duo Sam & Dave of the 1960s. Their sensational hits included “Soul Man,” “Hold On I’m Coming,” “I Thank You,” and many more. Sam & Dave were inducted into the Rock and Roll of Fame in 1992. Sam was born in 1935 and grew up in Miami’s Overtown and Liberty City neighborhoods. Sam began singing in church. Sam Cooke heard him and thought Moore would be a perfect replacement for him as the lead in the gospel group The Soul Stirrers. The night before he was due to leave for Chicago and be fitted for his stage clothes and join the group, he went to the Nightbeat and saw Jackie Wilson perform. Sam realized he wanted to sing pop, not gospel professionally like Jackie and struck out on his own. He became the singing MC an...