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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSAM and DAVESoul vocal duo: Sam Moore (b 12 Oct. '35, Miami FL), Dave Prater (b 9 May '37, Ocilla GA; d 9 April '88, car accident). Sam sang with gospel group the Melonaires, went solo to secular music, joined onstage by Dave in Miami '58: audience response was good. Morris Levy signed them to Roulette '60; they made good records produced by Henry Glover, but no hits. Switched to Atlantic '65; Jerry Wexler sent them to Stax to record songs by Isaac Hayes and David Porter with the Memphis Horns, and some of the best-loved hits of the soul era resulted, 13 entries each in soul and pop charts being almost the same, including 'Hold On! I'm A Comin' ' '66 (no. 1 soul, 21 pop): with Sam's gospel-flavoured call and Dave's earthier response, 'Hold On' was Stax's biggest impact on the pop chart since Carla Thomas's 'Gee Whiz' '61. Then came 'Soul Man' '67 (no. 1 soul, 2 pop), 'I Thank You' (no. 4 soul, 7 pop). When Stax was sold '68 they switched to parent Atlantic and had more hits including 'Soul Sister, Brown Sugar' (no. 18 soul, 41 pop), split up '70, reunited '71 on UA but had no more hits. |