Legendary soul singer Sam Moore, member of the duo Sam & Dave until 1981 and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, passed away on January 10 at age 89. He was a pillar of the soul genre with hits like “Soul Man” and a long-standing solo career. He counted Bruce Springsteen among his many friends and collaborators, and Springsteen recently took to social media to pay tribute to Moore.
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“Over on E Street, we are heartbroken to hear of the death of Sam Moore, one of America’s greatest soul voices,” Springsteen wrote in an Instagram post. “There simply isn’t another sound like Sam’s soulful tenor in American music.”
In 2022, Sam Moore collaborated with Bruce Springsteen on two songs from Springsteen’s soul cover album, Only the Strong Survive. Moore sang on “Soul Days” and “I Forgot to Be Your Lover.” In 1992, for Springsteen’s ninth album Human Touch, Moore sang backup on the tracks “Soul Driver,” “Real World,” and “Man’s Job.” Additionally, Springsteen was featured on Moore’s “Better to Have and Not Need” from 2006.
Sam Moore considered Bruce Springsteen “one of my best friends,” as he told NJ PBS last year, and it’s clear that Springsteen returned the sentiment. He and Moore shared the stage countless times, including during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary in 2009.
[RELATED: Soul Legend Sam Moore, of Sam & Dave, Dead at 89]
Bruce Springsteen Pays Tribute to Friend and Collaborator Sam Moore
Springsteen continued in his Instagram post, “Having had the honor to work with Sam on several occasions, he was a sweet and funny man. He was filled with stories of the halcyon days of soul music, and to the end had the edge of deep authenticity in his voice I could only wonder at.”
In 2022, Springsteen noted that Sam & Dave were an instrumental part of his musical influences, calling the soul duo “gigantic in my musical development.” He also called Same Moore “our greatest living soul singer.” In his tribute, he offered “prayers to [Sam Moore’s] wife Joyce and thanks for the immortal recordings Sam left us. God bless.”
Additionally, following the news of Moore’s death, Steven Van Zandt posted a tribute to the legendary soul singer. “RIP Sam Moore,” he wrote on social media. “One of the last of the great Soul Men. Him and Dave Prater were the inspiration for me and Johnny to start Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. An important righteous wonderful man.”
Featured Image by Kevin Mazur/WireImage
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