Happy Birthday Sam Moore, 85 years young today, the prominent voice of Sam & Dave. Hit maker extraordinaire, performed for all living and recently deceased presidents, member of the RRHOF when it meant something. Grammy winner. Husband, father, brother, friend.
It’s quite wonderful and pretty damn lucky that Sam Moore is celebrating his 85th birthday today. In his 50s, some 30 years ago, he was a drug addict living in New York, past his days at the top of his charts with no clear way out of a mess. He’d been at the top of the heap, and then down to the bottom. But he pulled himself up with the help of wife Joyce Moore, to whom he’s been married since 1983. It’s a story of redemption.
And not only that, everyone loves Sam. His friends through the music business are legion. His 2006 album, “Overnight Sensational,” showed examples of that with Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Jon Bon Jovi, Wynonna Judd, Stevie Winwood, Paul Carrack, and so many more who recorded with him. Sam is still known for his duet with Conway Twitty in the 80s, and for his inspiring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi to create the Blues Brothers.
It’s hard to believe but Sam is the last of the Atlantic Records great soul stars. Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, and so on and on. He’s the only name remaining from the shout outs on “Sweet Soul Music” by Arthur Conley. But he doesn’t look back, he looks forward, and we look forward to more sensational music from Sam Moore. Happy Birthday!
