Sam and Dave: Soul Men

Sam and Dave permanently defined the vocal energy, sweat, and call-and-response brilliance of southern soul. Combining Sam Moore's soaring, gospel-inflected tenor with Dave Prater's gritty, responsive baritone, the duo brought a wild, church-derived fervour directly into secular popular music. Backed by the sleek syncopations of Booker T and the MGs and driven by the elite songwriting orchestration of Isaac Hayes and David Porter, their lightning-fast vocal delivery and unmatched physical showmanship earned them an immortal legacy as the definitive architects of the classic Memphis soul explosion.

Sam and Dave are perhaps the finest vocal duo in the history of soul music. The duo was part of Stax Records’ fine roster of soul recording artists. Sam Moore was born in Miami, Florida, in 1935, while his partner, Dave Prater, was born in Ocilla, Georgia, in 1937. The two men joined forces and formed Sam and Dave in 1961. At Stax Records, the duo was supported on recordings by the Stax house band, Booker T and the MG’s, and was often provided with stellar songs by the songwriting team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter.

After the duo had recorded a series of unsuccessful singles for Roulette Records, Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records sent them to Memphis, Tennessee, to try their luck with Stax. Between 1965 and 1968, Sam & Dave would establish themselves as the most exciting duo in soul music, scoring big hits with tunes such as “Hold On! I’m Comin’,” “Soul Man,” “Soothe Me,” “You Got Me Hummin’,” and “I Thank You.”

Technical Catalog Spotlight: Hold On, I’m Comin’ (1966)

This explosive Stax debut stands as a foundational cornerstone of 1960s rhythm and blues, establishing the rhythmic blueprint for modern soul instrumentation. The crisp high-fidelity production captures the precision horn lines of the Memphis Horns locking tightly onto a syncopated bass groove, providing a high-voltage backdrop for the duo's soaring vocal chemistry.

• Released: April 1966
• Label: Stax Records / Atlantic Records
• Producer: Isaac Hayes, David Porter
• Core Personnel: Sam Moore (Vocals), Dave Prater (Vocals), Steve Cropper (Guitar), Donald Duck Dunn (Bass)
• Key Tracks: Hold On Im Comin, You Dont Know Like I Know, Blame Me Don't Blame My Heart

By the late sixties, the duo’s waning commercial success and increasing infighting led to Sam & Dave splitting up in 1970.

Prater and Moore embarked on ill-fated solo careers before the first of many Sam & Dave reunions. The 1980 film, “The Blues Brothers,” which featured the Sam and Dave hits “Soul Man” and “Soothe Me,” regenerated interest in the duo, but continuing conflict prevented the men from taking full advantage of their second chance at success.

Technical Catalog Spotlight: Soul Men (1967)

A commercially and critically triumphant classic that paired sharp, innovative rhythm tracks with some of the most intense vocal performances ever committed to magnetic tape. The album features a flawless collection of radio-friendly anthems and deeply moving ballads, capturing the duo and the Stax house band operating at the absolute peak of their collective creative powers.

• Released: October 1967
• Label: Stax Records / Atlantic Records
• Producer: Isaac Hayes, David Porter
• Core Personnel: Sam Moore (Vocals), Dave Prater (Vocals), Booker T Jones (Organ, Piano), Al Jackson (Drums)
• Key Tracks: Soul Man, Let It Be Me, May I Baby

During the Eighties, Prater actually hired another singer to pose as “Sam,” and together they toured the country as Sam & Dave, much to the frustration of Sam Moore. David Prater sadly died in a car accident in Georgia in 1988, at the age of 50.

The duo recorded several superb albums for Atlantic/Stax, including “Hold On, I’m Comin’” (1966), “Double Dynamite” (1966), “Soul Men” (1967), and “I Thank You” (1968).

Technical Catalog Spotlight: Double Dynamite (1966)

A spectacular sophomore statement that solidified their international chart dominance and deep-fried R&B credibility. The tracks preserve an essential cross-section of heavy, syncopated dance tracks overlaid with their signature screaming vocal deliveries and the rolling, tight-knit instrumentation that defined the legendary Memphis studio sound.

• Released: December 1966
• Label: Stax Records / Atlantic Records
• Producer: Isaac Hayes, David Porter
• Core Personnel: Sam Moore (Vocals), Dave Prater (Vocals), Steve Cropper (Guitar), Al Jackson (Drums)
• Key Tracks: You Got Me Hummin, Said I Wasnt Gonna Tell Nobody, When Something Is Wrong With My Baby

---

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.