1 9 8 0 s , ▁were ▁influenced ▁by ▁Sam ▁& ▁Dave ▁– ▁their ▁biggest ▁hit ▁was ▁a ▁cover ▁of ▁" S oul ▁Man ", ▁and ▁their ▁act ▁and ▁stage ▁show ▁contained ▁many ▁hom ages ▁to ▁the ▁du o . ▁ ▁Early ▁years ▁▁ ▁Sam ▁Moore ▁and ▁Dave ▁Pr ater ' s ▁early ▁musical ▁background s ▁involved ▁listening ▁to ▁and ▁singing ▁g ospel ▁music ▁in ▁their ▁homes ▁and ▁churches , ▁and ▁in ▁Dave ' s ▁case , ▁also ▁singing ▁g ospel ▁in ▁the ▁cho ir ▁in ▁his ▁church . ▁Dave ▁later ▁sang ▁with ▁his ▁older ▁brother ▁J T ▁Pr ater ▁in ▁the ▁g ospel ▁group ▁The ▁S ens ational ▁Hum ming bird s , ▁who ▁recorded ▁" L ord ▁Te ach ▁Me " ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 9 5 0 s . ▁Sam ▁recorded ▁" N ite y - N ite " /" C av eman ▁Rock " ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁with ▁the ▁do o - w op ▁group ▁The ▁Maj est ics , ▁and ▁later ▁sang ▁with ▁the ▁g ospel ▁groups ▁The ▁G ales ▁and ▁The ▁M ell on aires . ▁Moore ▁and ▁Pr ater ▁listed ▁Jack ie ▁Wilson ▁and ▁Sam ▁Co oke ▁as ▁influ ences ▁on ▁their ▁styles , ▁and ▁Moore ▁was ▁also ▁influenced ▁by ▁Little ▁Will ie ▁John , ▁whom ▁he ▁and ▁Dave ▁opened ▁for ▁often ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 6 0 s . ▁ ▁Sam ▁& ▁Dave ▁met ▁working ▁the ▁g ospel ▁music ▁circuit , ▁and ▁later ▁in ▁small ▁clubs ▁in ▁Miami ▁during ▁amateur