Dave Prater
May 9, 1937 - April 9, 1988

Dave Prater is best known as half of the R&B duo, Sam & Dave. He and his vocal partner, Sam Moore made classic recordings for twenty years, beginning in 1961. Of those songs, they are best known for “Soul Man,” that reached an even bigger audience when it became an unlikely hit in 1978 for the Blues Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi). Over the years, Sam & Dave were awarded several gold records, a Grammy, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame among other accolades. “Soul Man” itself has been recognized as one of the most influential songs of the first half century of rock ‘n’ roll and has earned a place in the Grammy Hall of Fame.  Dave Prater died on April 9, 1988 when the car he was driving veered off the road near Syracuse, GA. He was 50.