Isaac Hayes RIP - Ajarn Forum

robitusson · 11th August 2008, 10:09

Pioneering musician Isaac Hayes dead at 65 - Celebrities - MSNBC.com

Quote:

Pioneering musician Isaac Hayes dead at 65

Quote:

Singer found unresponsive on floor near home treadmill

updated 4:12 p.m. ET Aug. 10, 2008

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.”
Hayes was about to begin work on a new album for Stax, the soul record label he helped build to legendary status. And he had recently finished work on a movie called “Soul Men” in which he played himself, starring Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac, who died on Saturday.

Steve Shular, a spokesman for the sheriff’s office, said authorities received a 911 call after Hayes’ wife and young son and his wife’s cousin returned home from the grocery store and found him collapsed in a downstairs bedroom. A sheriff’s deputy administered CPR until paramedics arrived.

“The treadmill was running but he was unresponsive lying on the floor,” Shular said.
The album “Hot Buttered Soul” made Hayes a star in 1969. His shaven head, gold chains and sunglasses gave him a compelling visual image.

“Hot Buttered Soul” was groundbreaking in several ways: He sang in a “cool” style unlike the usual histrionics of big-time soul singers. He prefaced the song with “raps,” and the numbers ran longer than three minutes with lush arrangements.

“Jocks would play it at night,” Hayes recalled in a 1999 Associated Press interview. “They could go to the bathroom, they could get a sandwich, or whatever.”

Next came “Theme From Shaft,” a No. 1 hit in 1971 from the film “Shaft” starring Richard Roundtree.

“That was like the shot heard round the world,” Hayes said in the 1999 interview.

Bangkok Phil · 11th August 2008, 10:22

Legend!

Theme from Shaft will always be one of the all-time greats. His version of 'Walk on By' ain't bad either.

RIP Isaac.

aging one · 11th August 2008, 10:25

RIP Issac. John Shaft, what a character and song.

Lor Ling · 11th August 2008, 10:30

Damn, first James Brown (at bleeding Christmas time) and now Big Zac.

I'm starting to feel old, so many legends are falling off their perches

reinvented · 11th August 2008, 14:09

Jesus, or Xenu should i say

a real loss, one of my heroes dead

hope his thetons rest in peace

Mr. Hales · 12th August 2008, 04:47

sad that 'shaft' seems all he's remembered for.

it's really not his best.

'hot buttered soul', now there's an album. if you heard 'shaft' and like it, go buy that album.

the guy was a musical genius, his contribution to art was a contribution to our humanity.

thanks black moses.

ellroy · 12th August 2008, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Hales

sad that 'shaft' seems all he's remembered for.

it's really not his best.

'hot buttered soul', now there's an album. if you heard 'shaft' and like it, go buy that album.

the guy was a musical genius, his contribution to art was a contribution to our humanity.

thanks black moses.

Totally agree. Hot Buttered Soul is in my Top 5 all time greats, Shaft is nowhere near as good.

RIP Mr Hayes.

robsam · 5th October 2008, 10:24

I saw Isaac live a couple of times. Shame he died so young. Shame he had a falling out with the giys from South park over the Scientology episode. I thought he was real funny on the show and his songs on South park were really funny and good musically. The album "Chef Aid" is great. I agree that "Hot Buttered Soul" is one of his best albums. He also performs in the movie "Wattstax" which was the black (African-American) version of Woodstock...a concert filmed in Watts in 1973 that features amoung others Isaac Hayes, the Bar-Kays and Richard Pryor hosting. Check it out if you get the chance...it's a great glimpse of life in the ghetto in 1973.

Lor Ling · 22nd October 2008, 06:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etrruugo

The wise man knows he knows nothing, the fool thinks he knows all.---------------------------------------------------

Like, yeah, man.

maxxivalentyne · 23rd October 2008, 20:06

I remember him best for his legendary feature as special guest on the A Team. What a classic episode, RIP dude.