Iconic soul singer Sam Moore, celebrated for his unique tenor that defined many R&B hits in the 1960s, has passed away at the age of 89.

His representatives announced that Moore died early on Friday in Coral Gables, Florida, while he was recuperating from surgery.

Alongside Dave Prater, Moore created enduring tracks such as “Soul Man,” “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” and “I Thank You” as part of the duo Sam & Dave.

The pair separated in 1970 but were later inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, an honor that came posthumously for Prater, who passed away in 1988.

Moore was celebrated not only for his dazzling smile but also for his powerful yet smooth voice. Bruce Springsteen often hailed him as “the greatest living soul singer on the planet.” Moore collaborated with Springsteen as a backup vocalist on his 1992 album “Human Touch” and his 2023 album “Only the Strong Survive,” where they performed together on covers of “Soul Days” and “I Forgot to Be Your Lover.”

Sam Moore will forever remain a ‘soul man’

Born in 1935 in Miami, Moore began his musical journey by singing in local churches located in the Overtown and Liberty City neighborhoods. Despite encouragement from family and friends, including famous soul singer Sam Cooke, to pursue gospel music, Moore’s dreams shifted after witnessing a performance by Jackie Wilson at a local venue; he aspired to achieve pop stardom.

In 1961, while serving as the emcee and talent show host at the King O’ Hearts Club in Miami, Moore met Prater, who auditioned for the talent show. Their connection was instant, leading to a record deal.

After a notable performance caught the attention of Atlantic Records’ executives Ahmet Ertegun, Tom Dowd, and Jerry Wexler in 1964, Sam & Dave secured a more significant contract with the label, subsequently being “loaned out” to Stax Records, Atlantic’s southern division.

The hits soon followed – “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” “When Something is Wrong With My Baby,” and the 1967 classic “Soul Man” – cementing their place in music history.

This particular track, featuring captivating brass and soulful vocals, won a Grammy in 1967 for best performance by an R&B group and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999.

Over a decade later, the song gained renewed fame when performed on “Saturday Night Live” by The Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi), securing its place in pop culture.

Moore faced numerous challenges in the ’70s, including a severe heroin addiction. In the early ’80s, his wife, Joyce McRae, played a vital role in his recovery by enrolling him in a clinical trial for the anti-opiate Naltrexone.

Sam Moore was cherished by presidents

Moore frequently graced the Kennedy Center stage, notably delivering a heartfelt performance of “Take Me to the River” alongside Mavis Staples in 2014 to honor Al Green during the Kennedy Center Honors.

He had the honor of performing for various presidents, including Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. In 2002, he finally released his long-awaited solo album, “Plenty Good Loving,” produced by saxophonist King Curtis, whose tragic murder in 1971 delayed the album’s release.

Moore’s last solo album, titled “Overnight Sensational,” was released in 2006 and featured collaborations with prominent artists like Springsteen, Sting, and Bon Jovi.

He is survived by his wife McRae, daughter Michelle, and grandchildren Tash and Misha.