While friends and family – including fellow soul singer Sam Cooke – encouraged Moore to continue singing gospel, Moore had other ideas after seeing Jackie Wilson play at a local club ...

God bless.” A Florida native, Moore was first discovered by late R&B icon Sam Cooke, who offered Moore a gig as his replacement in the gospel group, The Soul Stirrers. However, among becoming ...

Then after he joined another gospel unit, the Melionaires, he was approached to replace Sam Cooke in the Soul Stirrers, but quickly turned down the invitation after seeing a performance by R&B ...

Sam Moore, who with with partner Dave Prater ... and once reportedly turned down an offer to replace a departing Sam Cooke in The Soul Stirrers. Moore and Prater, who was also an experienced ...

Both singers had cut their teeth singing in church, a foundation that did much to shape the gospel fervor at the heart of their approach to soul and R&B, much like Sam Cooke before them.

Archie," said Moore. Moore's music career began in gospel groups. In 1957, he was set to replace the great Sam Cooke in "The Soul Stirrers." "And I was supposed to leave Monday and go to Chicago ...