Dave Prater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dave Prater
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Prater Jr. |
| Born | May 9, 1937 Ocilla, Georgia, U.S. |
| Died | April 9, 1988 (aged 50) Sycamore, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musician |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1961–1988 |
| Associated acts | Sam & Dave |
David Prater Jr. (born May 9, 1937 – died April 9, 1988) was an American singer. He was known for his deep voice. Dave Prater was part of the famous singing duo Sam & Dave. They performed together from 1961 until he passed away in 1988.
He is honored in several music halls of fame. These include the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame. He also won a Grammy Award in 1967.
Contents
The Famous Duo: Sam & Dave
Sam & Dave were a very successful soul music duo. Rolling Stone magazine called them one of the best. They brought the sound of gospel church music to pop songs. Their songs often used a "call-and-response" style. This is where one singer calls out, and the other responds.
They recorded many hits at Stax Records in Memphis, Tennessee. Some of their most famous songs were "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Coming". They also sang "I Thank You" and other classic Southern soul songs.
Sam & Dave had many hits on the R&B charts. From 1966 to 1968, they had 10 top 20 singles. They also had 3 top 10 albums. "Soul Man" is considered one of the most important songs ever. It was even used in a 1986 movie and a TV show.
Critics called Sam & Dave "Double Dynamite." This was because of their energetic live shows. Their performances were full of gospel energy. Many artists, like Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson, were inspired by them. The movie The Blues Brothers also helped bring back interest in soul music. The Blues Brothers' own act was very similar to Sam & Dave's. Their biggest hit was a cover of "Soul Man."
Starting Out (1958–1964)
Dave Prater was born in Ocilla, Georgia. He was the seventh of ten children. He grew up singing gospel music in his church choir. He also sang in a gospel group called the Sensational Hummingbirds. His older brother, J. T. Prater, was in the group too.
Dave Prater met his singing partner, Sam Moore, in 1961. They met at the King of Hearts Club in Miami. Soon after, they signed with Roulette Records. Sam & Dave released six singles with Roulette. Dave Prater helped write two of these songs. On these early records, Dave usually sang the main part. Sam often sang harmony or other verses.
The Stax Years (1965–1968)
In late 1964, Jerry Wexler signed Sam & Dave to Atlantic Records. This deal allowed them to record at Stax Records in Memphis. Their first two songs did not become hits. But in November 1965, their song "You Don't Know Like I Know" changed everything.
This song started a streak of ten top twenty R&B hits. These included "Hold On, I'm Comin'" (1966) and "Soul Man" (1967). Other hits were "You Got Me Hummin'" (1966) and "I Thank You" (1968). From "Hold On, I'm Comin'" onwards, Sam Moore usually sang the main lead vocals. Dave Prater sang the lead on their only ballad hit, "When Something Is Wrong with My Baby." This song showed his amazing vocal range.
All their biggest hits were written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. These two were songwriters for Stax. Sam & Dave's Stax recordings also had great backing music. This came from the Stax house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s. The Stax horn section, the Mar-Keys, also played on their songs. These talented musicians helped create the unique sound.
Jim Stewart, who started Stax, engineered their recordings. He created the "Memphis sound." He recorded sessions live, often in one take. All these talents together made Sam & Dave's Stax songs very successful.
Later Years and New Beginnings (1968–1988)
In 1968, Stax and Atlantic Records ended their agreement. This meant Sam & Dave could no longer work with Hayes, Porter, or the Stax musicians. The songs they made with Atlantic did not sound the same. Most of them did not become big hits.
Their relationship also became difficult. This led to the duo breaking up in June 1970. After the split, Dave Prater recorded a single on his own. He also performed occasionally.
Sam & Dave reunited in August 1971. They performed together for most of the 1970s. Their popularity grew again when the Blues Brothers covered "Soul Man" in 1979. Dave Prater also appeared in the movie One Trick Pony with Sam Moore. Their last show together was on December 31, 1981.
In 1982, Prater started touring with Sam Daniels. This new duo also called themselves Sam & Dave. They performed together until Prater's death in 1988. Sam Moore tried to stop them from using the name. However, he was mostly unsuccessful. The Daniels–Prater version of Sam & Dave played many shows each year. They even performed in Europe, Japan, and Canada.
In 1985, Prater and Daniels released a medley of Sam & Dave hits. It was recorded in the Netherlands. This song reached number 92 on the R&B chart. It was first credited to "Sam & Dave." But Sam Moore made the label change it. The record was reissued under the name "The New Sam & Dave Revue."
Dave Prater's last performance was on April 3, 1988. It was at a Stax Reunion show in Atlanta. Six days later, on April 9, 1988, Dave Prater died in a car accident. He was driving to his mother's house in Sycamore, Georgia.
Dave Prater once shared his thoughts on his career:
I'm a workin' man. Been gettin' down so long. I don't be thinkin' about will I make it up again. Now, what's a music man like me gonna do? What's he do, 'less he entertains till he dies?
Personal Life
Dave Prater was married to Annie Belle Henderson from 1962 to 1969. They had five children together. He later married Judith T. Gilbert on December 25, 1969. They remained married until his death. Prater lived in Paterson, New Jersey, from 1974. He was buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Dave Prater para niños
