Sam Moore, the legendary soul singer, and one-half of the titular soul duo, Sam & Dave, has died aged 89.Moore is best known for his distinct voice, which can be heard on Sam & Dave’s legendary tracks like “Hold On, I’m Coming,” “Soul Man,” and “Soothe Me,” to name a few. As well as his musical work, Moore appeared on-screen in an episode of the 1993 TV mini-series,Tales of the City, as well asBlue Brothers 2000, the 1998 sequel tothe 1980 original,Blues Brothers.He was also featured in the 1988 filmTapeheads,starring John Cusack and Tim Robbins.
Sam Moore’s death was confirmed by his wife and manager, Joyce Moore (viaRolling Stone), who revealed the legendary musician passed away on Friday, January 10 at his home in Coral Gables, Florida. The singer and actor had “unspecified surgery earlier in the week.” This was confirmed by Moore’s rep, Jeremy Westby, who revealed “the cause of death was complications recovering from that surgery.”
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Samuel David Moore was born on July 16, 2025, in Miami. His father was a preacher, and he began singing in his family’s backyard. He met Dave Prater at Miami’s King of Heart’s club in 1961, and the pair were quickly signed to Roulette Records. Sam & Dave released their first big hit, “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” in 1965. Their biggest song, “Soul Man” (released in 1978) has been used in tons of movies and shows, includingThe Fresh Prince of Bell-Air, andOne Trick Pony, while “Hold On I’m Coming” hasfeatured in everything fromThe Umbrella Academyto the originalBlues Brothers. Suffice it to say that Moore’s soul-shifting work made its mark in pop culture in more ways than one.
Fans & Celebrities Mourn the Passing of Sam Moore
Following the news of Sam Moore’s death, thousands of fans took to social media, sharing their memories of listening to Sam & Dave, as well as their own personal interactions with the iconic soul singer. Some of those fans include internationally renowned musicians, and some of Moore’s own past-collaborators. “The Estate of Isaac Hayes extends our heartfelt condolences to the family of Sam Moore, of Sam & Dave. Sam’s voice was a powerful force of nature and unforgettable,” wrote@IsaacHayes3, the son of Isaac Hayes, who wrote the lyrics for “Soul Man.” Meanwhile,@MCHammer(yep, that MC Hammer) wrote, “Sam & Dave wasn’t playing with them cats !!! They came to light the stage up !!! You know I love it !!!”
You can read some more reactions below:
Stax Records, the label company that released his seminal works including “Soul Man” and “Hold On I’m Comin," posted onXa statement regarding Moore’s passing, honoring his legacy as a key contributor to their success.
“We’re saddened to hear that Sam Moore, of the legendary duo Sam & Dave, passed away at age 89. 🤍 Together with Dave Prater, Mr. Moore brought early success to a fledgling Stax label with hits like ‘Soul Man,’ ‘Hold On I’m Comin,’ ‘You Don’t Know Like I Know,’ and more.”
Sam Moore is survived by his wife, Joyce Moore. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.
