Sam Moore cries ‘rip-off’

November 11, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

When Sam Moore, lead singer of legendary R&B duo Sam & Dave, was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame on Thursday at Chevrolet Centre in Youngstown, he bemoaned the injustices that he and other musicians of his era have suffered. One-sided recording contracts robbed of royalties for his songs and other creative property, he said in his acceptance speech. The problem persists to this day, he said.

As if to prove his point, the movie “Soul Men” opened Friday, the day after Moore’s induction, and Moore believes he’s been had again. In a news release, Moore said the movie rips off parts of his life story, as well as his trademark and music. “Soul Men” stars Samuel L. Jackson and the late Bernie Mac.

In the movie, which has received mixed to poor reviews, Jackson and Mac play a duo called The Real Deal. But Moore said the public knows who the “real deal” is.

Moore, 73, and his late partner Dave Prater were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Moore has been featured in the movie “Blues Brothers 2000,” the sequel to the original “Blues Brothers” movie, which was an homage to Sam & Dave. Next month, Universal Home Video will release “Sam & Dave: The Original Soul Men,” which features rare, vintage and previously unseen footage of the duo.

Today’s birthdays

Comedian Jonathan Winters is 83. Singer-keyboardist Paul Cowsill of The Cowsills is 56. Singer Marshall Crenshaw is 55. Actress Demi Moore is 46. Actress Calista Flockhart is 44. Drummer Scott Mercado of Candlebox is 44. Actor Leonardo DiCaprio is 34.