Born in Selma, Alabama, United States,[1] Moore began as lead of the Cleveland based group the Hornets,[3] before being discovered by the Drifters.

He rejoined the Drifters, now with four new members, and became the lead singer in 1964, after the death of Rudy Lewis, who was due to record "Under the Boardwalk" the next day.

Moore had a string of hits with the group in the 1960s, most notably "Saturday Night at the Movies", "Come On Over to My Place", "At the Club" and "Up in the Streets of Harlem".

Having relocated to the UK in the early 1970s, Moore and the group scored with a string of hits, "Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies", "There Goes My First Love", "Can I Take You Home Little Girl", "Hello Happiness" and "You're More Than a Number in My Little Red Book".

[1] Moore died en route to London's Mayday Hospital; the cause of death was ruled to be pneumonia.