Sam Moore, legendary soul singer and one half of the iconic duo Sam & Dave, passed away at age 89 in Coral Gables, Florida, due to post-surgery complications.

Photo Credit: Sam Moore by Gage Skidmore / CC by 2.0

As part of Sam & Dave, Moore helped create some of soul music's most enduring hits between 1965-1968, including "Soul Man," "Hold On, I'm Coming," and "I Thank You." The duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and were dubbed "the greatest of all soul duos."

Born in Miami on October 12, 1935, Moore began his musical journey in church choirs before meeting Dave Prater in 1961. Their breakthrough came after signing with Atlantic Records in 1964 and working with Stax Records, where they collaborated with songwriters Isaac Hayes and David Porter.

Key achievements:

• Ten consecutive Top 20 Billboard R&B hits
• Influenced The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi)
• Collaborated with artists like Sting, Mariah Carey, and Bruce Springsteen
• Released solo album "Overnight Sensational" in 2006

Beyond music, Moore became a prominent advocate for artists' rights and anti-drug programs after overcoming his own addiction in the 1980s. With his wife Joyce McRae as his business manager, he championed music creators' rights and fought for fair compensation, including supporting the American Music Fairness Act until his final days.

Moore continued performing and recording well into his later years, maintaining an active career spanning more than six decades. His impact on soul music and artist advocacy leaves an indelible mark on the music industry.

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