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Isaac Hayes (1942 – 2008)
The great soul singer, producer, musician, and sometimes actor has died at age 65 today.
Hayes, ‘Shaft’ singer and disco presage, dies
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Isaac Hayes, the baldheaded, baritone-voiced soul crooner who laid the groundwork for disco and whose “Theme From Shaft” won both Academy and Grammy awards, died Sunday afternoon after he collapsed near a treadmill, authorities said. He was 65.
Hayes was pronounced dead at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis an hour after he was found by a family member, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office said. The cause of death was not immediately known.
With his muscular build, shiny head and sunglasses, Hayes cut a striking figure at a time when most of his contemporaries were sporting Afros. His music, which came to be known as urban-contemporary, paved the way for disco as well as romantic crooners like Barry White.
And in his spoken-word introductions and interludes, Hayes was essentially rapping before there was rap. His career hit another high in 1997 when he became the voice of Chef, the sensible school cook and devoted ladies man on the animated TV show “South Park.”
“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.”
Isaac Hayes greatly influenced music during the 1960s and 70s. He was a true American icon. His album “Hot Buttered Soul” (1969) was played numerous times in my household as boy. His deep, confident voice along with spoken word and wonderful orchestration just moved me. As a musician, I also lament the loss of a musical pioneer. His 18 minute, 42 second song “By The Time I Get The Phoenix” was like a short play. Full of emotion and wonderful musicianship.
And what more can be said about the ultra-confident, ultra-cool “Theme From Shaft” song. I wanted to be Shaft when I heard that song!
He will be missed immensely.
7 Responses to “Isaac Hayes (1942 – 2008)”
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Rest in peace, Isaac. There is simply no greater moment of musical creation in the history of this country than that which occurred at Stax Studios in Memphis in the mid to late 1960s. What's amazing about it all was the interracial message of unity that Stax projected, with the MGs at its heart. Isaac Hayes really was Hot Buttered Soul.
Long ago when I was in college I worked as a cook in a restaurant. One night the manager came into the kitchen with a guy that looked like he had just walked off the set of Shaft — shin-length raccoon coat, wide-brimmed hat, heavy medallions and flashy sunglasses. He looked like Isaac Hayes dressed like a pimp. And he was huge: 6'6″ and easily 350 lbs. He was to be our new chef.
The place was like working in the league of nations, but I had never seen anything like Larry before. Not in real life anyway. He was a bit intimidating. Once you got to know him though, it turned out he had a heart of gold. A gentle giant. I learned a lot from him — about a lot of things. About cooking, about managing people, and about urban black culture. We became friends, and we'd go out drinking sometimes. And when the regular bars closed down sometimes he'd take me to some after-hours clubs. Most of the time I was the only white guy in the place. But hey, I was there with Larry, so it was cool. Most of the time.
One night when I wasn't with him he was in one of those places and had a conversation with God. Apparently it was a hell of a conversation, because from that moment he never drank again, never smoked, and never toked. Soon thereafter he started studying to become a minister. It didn't change our relationship much. Instead of going to a bar we'd sit around talking about God. Eventually he got a gig preaching, so I'd go down occasionally and listen to him. That too was a completely different experience. I had never been in a black church before, and I was again the only white guy in the place. But people were very friendly, and it was exciting! It's hard to imagine anyone coming out of a place like that not moved.
I presume everyone has people in their lives who change the direction of it, or who change the way you think about things. Larry was definitely one of those people to me. And every time I think about Isaac Hayes I think about Larry. God rest your soul, Isaac. And I hope you're doing well, Larry.
Isaac you will missed greatly but I know that you are going rise in the resurrection and return to this Earth with Christ very soon.
“Precious in the sight of the Eternal is the death of his saints” (Psalms 116:15). When a saint dies in faith, it is certain that God has another family member soon to be resurrected.
Isaac was one of the most extraordinary musicans of our time.
It is clear to all of us who love Isaac Hayes, and we number in millions, that his spirit will never die. His sound will continue to enrapture generation after generation. The fact is that when Isaac sang a song, the song remained sung. His infectious grooves, his vocal nuances became fixed in our heads.
Isaac's songs were filled were infused with something greater than passing pleasure, genuine joy. His music was God-given, God inspired and God-blessed.
Good-by Isaac, God bless and may you rest in peace.
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