Following the passing of Sam Moore, many of the artists inspired by the Sam & Dave singer took to social media to pay tribute to the Soul legend, including friend and collaborator, Bruce Springsteen.
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“Over on E Street, we are heartbroken to hear of the death of Sam Moore, one of America’s greatest soul voices,” Springsteen shared on IG. “There simply isn’t another sound like Sam’s soulful tenor in American music.”
Moore, who last year called Springsteen “one of my best friends” during an interview with PBS, teamed up with Bruce, both onstage and in the recording studio, with Moore singing backup on three Human Touch tracks, and Springsteen returning the favor on Moore’s “Better to Have and Not Need.”
Springsteen and Moore also share the stage together many times, most notably at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 25th anniversary concert in New York in October 2009, where they performed “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’” with the E Street Band.
“Having had the honor to work with Sam on several occasions, he was a sweet and funny man,” Springsteen continued in his tribute to Moore. “He was filled with stories 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.”
Springsteen also went on to share a clip of the Hall of Fame performance in a follow up post, echoing the same sentiments from his previous message to caption the video.
Springsteen, who in a 2022 interview said that “Sam and Dave were gigantic in my musical development” and called Moore “our greatest living soul singer,” concluded his tribute saying, “We offer our prayers to his wife Joyce and thanks for the immortal recordings Sam left us. God bless.”
Springsteen’s E Street bandmate Steven Van Zandt, also took to social to share his own tribute to Moore, writing, “RIP Sam Moore. One of the last of the great Soul Men. Him and Dave Prater were the inspiration for me and Johnny to start Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. An important righteous wonderful man.”
In addition to the E Street bandmates, many other musicians shared social media messages in memoriam to Moore’s legendary influence, life, and career, including Jon Bon Jovi, Public Enemy’s Chuck D, and Nile Rodgers.
“Sam Moore, the Soulman, one of the pioneers and greatest singers ever has left us..,” Bon Jovi wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of him and Moore onstage together. “I’m not saddened as much as I felt incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to be in his presence. Having had the opportunity to perform and even record with Sam was humbling and an honor,” he added, noting that his first date with Dorothea was at a Sam & Dave concert in New Jersey.
“I don’t know if yall reading this even know how Sam Moore (Sam and Dave) part of my life soundtrack. Rest In Beats Mr Sam,” Chuck D shared alongside and illustration. While Rodgers wrote, “RIP to a great Soul Man and a great friend, Sam Moore! Condolences to his fam and friends who are many.”
Moore passed the morning of Friday, January 10 in his home in Coral Gables, FL at the age of 89. Moore’s wife and manager, Joyce Moore, confirmed the singer’s death to Rolling Stone, sharing that Moore had had unspecified surgery earlier in the week. Moore’s rep, Jeremy Westby, went on to express that the cause of death was due to complications recovering from that surgery.