Sam Moore and Dave Prater were perhaps the most exciting soul duo of the 1960s. Both got their start as gospel singers in Miami, Florida, and after turning to secular music they caught the attention of Atlantic Records co-owner Jerry Wexler, who quickly signed them to a recording contract. Wexler wisely decided to "loan" them to Stax Records, the Memphis soul label which was distributed by Atlantic.

At Stax, they secured not only the label's formidable studio musicians but also the songwriting talents of Dave Porter and Isaac Hayes, who penned such hits as "Hold On! I'm Comin'," and "Soul Man," which was later a hit for the Blues Brothers.

Although Moore and Prater sometimes utilized vocal harmonies, their more distinctive contribution was a call-and-response approach which stemmed from their roots in gospel music. Prater died in 1988.

Further Reading:

Bowman, Rob. Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records. New York, Schirmer, 1997.