Soul icon, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and funky Shaft theme writer Issac Hayes died Sunday at 65. His wife found him passed out near a treadmill at their home outside Memphis, and he was pronounced dead an hour later. The cause of death was not known, according to the New York Times. His Shaft song won an Oscar, his 1971 album Black Moses won a Grammy. He was a songwriter and performer for groundbreaking Memphis R&B label Stax Records, home of Otis Redding and Booker T. In the ’90s, he popped back into pop culture as a voice for Chef on Comedy Central’s South Park.
Mr. Hayes performed at the Prospect Park Bandshell on July 12. Here is a video of him performing his most recognizable song.
Here are some excerpts from obituaries and remembrances:
He made his public singing debut in church at the age of 5, and taught himself piano and saxophone before relocating to Memphis and performing with groups there, according to All-Music Guide. In 1964 he began playing with the Mar-Keys, which led to his long stint as a musician, songwriter and producer for Stax, where he worked with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and many others.
Over the following years, Hayes and songwriting partner David Porter wrote a reported 200 songs, including such soul classics as Sam & Dave’s "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I’m Comin’," Carla Thomas’ "B-A-B-Y," and Johnnie Taylor’s "I Had a Dream." [MTV obit]
”Isaac Hayes embodies everything that’s soul music,” Collin Stanback, an A&R executive at Stax, told The Associated Press on Sunday. ”When you think of soul music you think of Isaac Hayes — the expression … the sound and the creativity that goes along with it.” His influence also extended beyond music. His trademarked bald head, full beard and muscular frame, often adorned with a multitude of gold chains, made him a fashion trendsetter at a time when most of his contemporaries were sporting blowout Afros. He was also a symbol of black pride, and an activist for civil rights. [Associated Press obit]
The Rev. Al Sharpton called Hayes a ”creative genius” and added, ”even in his later years he never hesitated to appear for a cause or endorse something that he felt was for the good of mankind. He will be sorely missed.” [Associated Press obit]
In 2006, Hayes quit "South Park" after an episode mocked Scientology, the religion that Hayes practiced. He felt the episode showed bigotry and intolerance toward his religious beliefs. Stone responded by saying that Hayes had no problem with the episodes that made fun of Christians. Later, the character of Chef was seemingly killed off. [Los Angeles Times obit]
A Chef’s best moments montage on YouTube. More videos of Chef performing songs on South Park here.
