Samuel David Moore

:"For other people of that name, see Samuel Moore"

Sam Moore (born 12 October 1935) is an American Southern Soul and Rhythm & Blues (R&B) singer who was the primary lead vocal for the soul vocal duo Sam & Dave from 1961 through 1981. Sam Moore is a member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame (for "Soul Man") and a Grammy Award and a multi-Gold Record award winning recording artist. Sam & Dave were the most successful and critically acclaimed duo in Soul Music history. Moore also has achieved a distinguished 25 year career as a solo artist.

Overview

Moore is best known for his work as Sam of the soul duo Sam & Dave, where he was the higher tenor voice and primary vocal on most of the hit recordings. He is also known for his twenty five year career as a solo musician, performing and recording artist. Moore has built a strong reputation as a solo artist for his show stopping performances in concerts, ranging from the Atlantic Records 40th anniversary party in 1988, to the New Orleans Jazz Festival and the SXSW Music Industry conference in 2006. He has also been a sought after performer for award shows, ranging from the tribute for Elvis Presley in 1994, to the Grammy Awards 2006 tribute to Wilson Pickett, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2006 for Smokey Robinson. Moore has also partnered with other famous recording artists, including Conway Twitty, Bruce Springsteen, Don Henley, Elton John, Phil Collins, Lou Reed and others on well known live and recorded performances.

Music critic Dave Marsh in 2002 called Sam Moore "The Greatest Living Soul Singer" and B. B. King said "To me, Sam Moore is the Frank Sinatra of Soul Music". Moore's lost album, "Plenty Good Lovin' ", recorded in 1970-1971, was finally re-discovered and released to strong critical acclaim in 2002. In 2006, Moore released a new solo album, "Overnight Sensational". This featured a who's who of guest performers who volunteered their creative talents to Moore's project, and the song, "You are So Beautiful", which featured Moore, Billy Preston and Eric Clapton received a Grammy nomination. Moore also received a MOBO (Music of Black Origin) lifetime achievement award in the UK in 2006.

am & Dave years

Sam Moore and David Prater were both experienced gospel music singers, having performed individually with groups the Gospel Hummingbirds and The Melionaires. They met in The King of Hearts Club in Miami in 1961, where they were discovered by regional producer Henry Stone, who signed them to Roulette Records. After modest success at Roulette,they were signed by Jerry Wexler to Atlantic Records in 1964, then being 'loaned' out to Stax Records to produce, record and release their records. The duo's November 1965 single, "You Don't Know Like I Know," started a series of ten straight top twenty Billboard R&B hits that included "Hold On! I'm Comin'" (1966), "You Got Me Hummin' (1966), "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" (1967), "Soul Man" (1967), and "I Thank You" (1968). Most of their hits were penned by Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter. In most recordings, they were also backed by Hayes on piano with Booker T and the MGs and The Memphis Horns. The ending of their association with the Stax record label and their frequently volatile relationship contributed to their first break-up in 1970.

Sam & Dave performed throughout most of the 1970s through 1981, and enjoyed a brief resurgence in popularity due to The Blues Brothers's 1979 recording of "Soul Man". Their last performance together was on 31 December 1981, at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco. On 9 April 1988, Prater died in a car crash in Sycamore, Georgia.

olo career

Moore began his solo career after breaking up with Prater in June 1970, and was offered to record several singles with Atlantic Records in 1970 and 1971. These singles, along with other recordings made during that period, were to be released on an album produced by King Curtis. However, in August 1971, King Curtis was murdered, and the album was shelved. Moore got back together with Prater in August 1971 and the two performed and recorded together over the next decade.

Moore toured with other soul artists including Wilson Pickett in Europe in the spring of 1982, where he married his wife Joyce McRae. She helped Moore overcome a lengthy battle with drug addiction during this period, which the couple later discussed in detail in Moore's book "Sam & Dave - An Oral History" co-written with Dave Marsh and published in 1997. Moore not only went public with his addiction in 1983, but also became a strong anti-drug advocate and worked as a volunteer for anti-drug programs. McRae also became and is presently his business manager, and has worked together with Sam to advocate for artists rights, royalties and pension payments. Ironically, though, she has developed a reputation in the music business for trying to underpay (or avoid paying altogether) Sam's bandmembers. As a result, the personnel in Sam's band has been a revolving door for years, producing uneven performances.

Moore later stated it was difficult for him to find steady performing work during much of the 1980s, because bookers wanted "Sam & Dave" and Moore refused to get another singer to play the Prater role. Additionally, Prater hired Sam Daniels in 1982 to perform the "Sam" part for the Sam & Dave act, adding confusion to the marketplace and, according to Moore, limiting his opportunities to play as a solo artist. Moore pursued Prater legally to stop performing using his name, and was successful in getting an injunction against them performing in several counties. However, this did not include the U.S., due to the lack of a national law prohibiting bands from disclosing whether they were original performers or not. Moore formed an organization "Artists and Others Against Imposters", and testified before Congress on the topic in 1989.

In 1984, Moore performed on the Don Henley album, "Building the Perfect Beast" on a song called "You Must Not Be Drinkin' Enough". In 1986, Moore re-recorded "Soul Man" with Lou Reed for the film of the same name. The song reached #30 on the UK Singles Chart. In April 1988, Moore announced he was joining the Elwood Blues Revue, which featured Dan Aykroyd and The Blues Brothers Band. Moore appeared with Junior Walker in the 1988 film "Tapeheads", which featured Moore and Walker as the legendary soul duo "The Swanky Modes". Sam appeared on David Letterman with Jr Walker later that year and performed the song "Ordinary Man" from the film. Their pairing was notable, as it was one of the few instances where performers from the longtime rival Motown & Stax camps performed or recorded together. In 1989, Moore performed at the George Bush inaugural, and also at the Smithonian Rhythm & Blues Museum opening honoring Hayes and Porter. In 1990, Moore toured in Europe with Booker T. & The MG's, Carla Thomas and Eddie Floyd. One of these performances, from the Monacco Soul Festival, was captured on film and broadcast in France. In 1991, Moore recorded several songs on "Red, Hot & Blues" with Republican Party official and avid bluesman, Lee Atwater. Moore also was given a Pioneer award by the Rhythm & Blues Foundation in 1991 to acknowledge his lifetime contributions.

Moore was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on January 15,1992 for his work with Sam & Dave, and brought Hayes and Porter onstage with him at the ceremony, to recognize his former songwriting and producing partners contributions. He also brought Dave Prater Jr. to the ceremony to acknowledge his former singing partner. Shortly after the induction, Moore announced plans to record a solo LP, featuring duets with Springsteen, Phil Collins and others. In 1992, Moore recorded several songs with Bruce Springsteen for his "Human Touch" album. He also had a hit in 1994, and got increased visibility as a solo artist, after his duet with Conway Twitty on "Rainy Night In Georgia".

Moore continued to tour through the 1990s. He released "I'm a Dole Man" in 1996, with the "Soul Man" lyrics rewritten, for Presidential candidate Bob Dole to play at voter rallies. The owners of "Soul Man"'s publishing rights did not agree with the claim it was fair use of the song as a parody, and forced the campaign to stop using the song.

In 1998, Moore appeared in the movie, "Blues Brothers 2000", as the Reverend Morris, fulfilling a childhood dream of being a preacher, and sang "John the Revelator". In 1999, "Soul Man" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame to recognize timeless classics.

In 2002 Moore's solo album, recorded in 1971 but never released, finally hit the record stores. "Plenty Good Lovin' ", produced by King Curtis and featuring Aretha Franklin on piano, garnered many four star reviews. Pareles, Jon (October 29, 2002). [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E4DD143FF93AA15753C1A9649C8B63 POP REVIEW; Sam Moore, Breaking and Mending Hearts.] "New York Times"]

In 2002, Moore starred in the D.A. Pennebaker directed documentary, "Only the Strong Survive" (Miramax). The film was a selection of both the Cannes and Sundance Film Festivals in 2002.Holden, Steven (May 9, 2003). [ FILM REVIEW; Soul Men (And Women) Of Memphis http://movies2.nytimes.com/mem/movies/review.html?es=9E06E3D7163FF93AA35756C0A9659C8B63] "New York Times"]

In 2003, the Stax Museum opened in Memphis, Tennessee, and Sam & Dave are featured prominently in the film made for the Museum "Soulsville", and are honored with a permanent wall display and video display.

In December 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine named "Soul Man" as one of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and Moore was the featured guest performer at Bruce Springsteen's 2004 Asbury Park Christmas shows.

On 29 August 2006, Moore released his first solo album in over thirty five years, completing the vision he started back in 1992. " [http://www.rhino.com/artists/sammoore/ Overnight Sensational] ," produced by Randy Jackson, features Sting, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Fantasia and 20 other guest stars. Produced with and available on [http://www.rhino.com/artists/sammoore/ Rhino Records] . The album received a number of positive critical reviews, especially for Moore's vocal performances.

In 2008, Moore sent a cease and desist letter to the Barack Obama campaign to stop the use of his material at rallies for Obama's presidential campaign. ["SAM MOORE SAYS 'HOLD ON' OBAMA: Singer sends cease and desist letter to campaign over use of Sam & Dave song.." Eurweb.com. 9 Oct. 2008. http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur41178.cfm]

References

External links

* [http://rhino.com/artists/sammoore/ Rhino's Sam Moore page] with streams of album's songs, streaming video and other items.