Caught up in the wonderful weather here in the D.C. area over the weekend, it was difficult to sit down in front of my computer to write about the passing of a music legend. I had just read in the Sunday (August 10th, 2008) Washington Post about an election in Memphis where Isaac Hayes had actively supported Steve Cohen (Caucasian) against another African American candidate. I had not heard of Mr. Hayes passing at this point. The article was timely in that it reminded me of Mr. Hayes talents in areas other than just music (noted below in Feb 15th article).

I was first introduced to Isaac Hayes music as a youngster when the movie "Shaft" came out. Although I was more into bubble bum pop and soul at the time, I vividly remember the song and heard it so many times that I could, and still can, recite it almost note for note.

Most people in the general population primarily knew Isaac Hayes from the "Theme from Shaft." However, Isaac Hayes was an icon within Stax records and the music industry. I am re-publishing a blog with links from February of this year on Mr. Hayes accomplishments. May he rest in peace.

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From Feb 15, 2008

Isaac Hayes helped create the Memphis Sound at Stax Records and was a major influence in music in the 1960s and 1970s. He began his career at age 5 singing in the church and self taught himself to play musical instruments such as the piano, saxophone, and the organ. He played the Memphis club circuit and about 1964 joined the Mar-Kays on the Stax label. He performed as a house musician composing and performing with such great artists as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Johnny Taylor. Hayes recorded several albums under his own name starting in 1967, when he recorded Presenting Isaac Hayes after a wild party at Stax Records. He finally sold commercially with his 1969 album Hot Buttered Soul but it wasn't until the soundtrack from the movie Shaft was recorded in 1971. He was the first African American to win an Academy Award for a "Best Score."

In 1974, Hayes, and his partners, purchased the American Basketball Association and the Memphis Tams. He changed their name to the Memphis Sounds. The team did not do well and had financial problems. It was sold to a Baltimore group who changed the name to the Baltimore Hustlers and then the Baltimore Claws. The team folded in 1975.

Hayes continued to record through the mid 1980s although his records did not do as well as they had in the past. He moved from recording to acting abut in 1995 returned to the studio to record Branded and Raw and Refined. He became part of the Royal family in Ghana under the official name of Nene Katey Ocansey I. Hayes became the voice of "Chef" McElroy in the cartoon Southpark and was later in the movie South Park: Bigger, Longer. Isaac Hayes appeared in the remake of Shaft starring Samuel L. Jackson in 2000. Since then he arranged and performed with Alicia Keyes on her debut Songs in A Minor. in 2006, Hayes left Southpark due to its irreverance toward religion.


Isaac Hayes has teamed up with Samuel L. Jackson for a new motion picture Soul Men. The link below provides more information on the film.


http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSN1229431720080213



Download a free e-book from Isaac Hayes Official site "The Way To Happiness." with this link to his web site:


http://www.isaachayes.com/



Sir Soul
http://www.SoulClassics247.com