Bruce Springsteen is honoring Sam Moore following the soul icon’s passing at 89 on Friday (Jan. 10).
Taking to social media on Saturday, Springsteen shared a heartfelt message: “Over on E Street, we are heartbroken to hear of the death of Sam Moore, one of America’s greatest soul voices,” the Boss wrote on Instagram. “There simply isn’t another sound like Sam’s soulful tenor in American music.”
The two friends shared both the stage and studio over the years. Moore contributed backing vocals to several tracks on Springsteen’s 1992 album, Human Touch, while Springsteen reciprocated on Moore’s 2006 song “Better to Have and Not Need.”
One of Springsteen and Moore’s most memorable live performances took place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary concert in New York in October 2009, where they joined the E Street Band to perform “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’.”
“Having had the honor to work with Sam on several occasions, he was a sweet and funny man,” Springsteen continued in his post. “He was filled with stores 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.”
Moore, half of the seminal duo Sam & Dave, passed away in Coral Gables, Fla. The cause of death was complications from surgery.
In addition to Springsteen, Moore was revered by artists like Phil Collins, Garth Brooks and Jon Bon Jovi. His instantly recognizable tenor first gained attention on iconic call-and-response classics such as Sam & Dave’s 1960s hits “Hold On, I’m Coming” and the Grammy-winning “Soul Man,” both of which topped Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart. Moore also made his mark with other timeless tracks like “I Thank You” and “When Something Is Wrong with My Baby.”
Following Moore’s death on Friday, Springsteen’s E Street bandmate Steven Van Zandt also paid tribute on social media.
“RIP Sam Moore. One of the last of the great Soul Men, he wrote on X. “Him and Dave Prater were the inspiration for me and Johnny to start Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. An important righteous wonderful man.
See Springsteen’s tribute to Moore on Instagram below.
