Oscar-Winning Singer Isaac Hayes Dead

"Hot Buttered Soul" Made Him Famous Four Decades Ago, "Theme From Shaft" Won Prestigious Awards

(AP)  Isaac Hayes, the pioneering singer, songwriter and musician whose relentless "Theme From Shaft" won Academy and Grammy awards, died Sunday, the Shelby County Sheriff's Office said. He was 65.

A family member found Hayes unresponsive near a treadmill and he was pronounced dead about an hour later at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, according to the sheriff's office. The cause of death was not immediately known.

In the early 1970s, Hayes laid the groundwork for disco, for what became known as urban-contemporary music and for romantic crooners like Barry White. And he was 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."

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.

At the Oscar ceremony in 1972, Hayes performed the song wearing an eye-popping amount of gold and received a standing ovation. TV Guide later chose it as No. 18 in its list of television's 25 most memorable moments. He won an Academy Award for the song and was nominated for another one for the score. The song and score also won him two Grammys.

"The rappers have gone in and created a lot of hit music based upon my influence," he said. "And they'll tell you if you ask."

Hayes was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

"I knew nothing about the business, or trends and things like that," he said. "I think it was a matter of timing. I didn't know what was unfolding."

A self-taught musician, he was hired in 1964 by Stax Records of Memphis as a backup pianist, working as a session musician for Otis Redding and others. He also played saxophone.

He began writing songs, establishing a songwriting partnership with David Porter, and in the 1960s they wrote such hits for Sam and Dave as "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Soul Man."

All this led to his recording contract.

In 1972, he won another Grammy for his album "Black Moses" and earned a nickname he reluctantly embraced. Hayes composed film scores for "Tough Guys" and "Truck Turner" besides "Shaft." He also did the song "Two Cool Guys" on the "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America" movie soundtrack in 1996.

Additionally, he was the voice of Nickelodeon's "Nick at Nite" and had radio shows in New York City (1996 to 2002) and then in Memphis.

He was in several movies, including "It Could Happen to You" with Nicolas Cage, "Ninth Street" with Martin Sheen, "Reindeer Games" starring Ben Affleck and the blaxploitation parody "I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka."

In the 1999 interview, Hayes described the South Park cook as "a person that speaks his mind; he's sensitive enough to care for children; he's wise enough to not be put into the 'whack' category like everybody else in town - and he l-o-o-o-o-ves the ladies."

But Hayes angrily quit the show in 2006 after an episode mocked his Scientology religion. "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins," he said.

Co-creator creators Matt Stone responded that Hayes "has no problem - and he's cashed plenty of checks - with our show making fun of Christians." A subsequent episode of the show seemingly killed off the Chef character.

Hayes was born in 1942 in a tin shack in Covington, Tenn., about 40 miles north of Memphis. He was raised by his maternal grandparents after his mother died and his father took off when he was 1½. The family moved to Memphis when he was 6.

Hayes wanted to be a doctor, but got redirected when he won a talent contest in ninth grade by singing Nat King Cole's "Looking Back."

He held down various low-paying jobs, including shining shoes on the legendary Beale Street in Memphis. He also played gigs in rural Southern juke joints where at times he had to hit the floor because someone began shooting.

[meanbiker]

Listening to Isaac on Pandora.com Thanks for the memories Isaac.. What GREAT MUSIC YOU MADE.. RIP..

[tootsie1963]

I HAD THE CHANCE TO MEET ISAAC IN VEGAS JUST PASSING THROUGH THE FLAMINGO...HE WAS A VERY NICE MAN

[isabel36-2009]

It''s too bad that so many cannot recognize him for the forerunner of rap and the icon that he was. Instead, I read about his influence on some cartoon show.

RIP, Isaac!

[Syndicate]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,401321,00.html

This is the article talking about the cult influence.

[Syndicate]

The south park stuff actually gets spooky. Rumor has it that Hayes suffered a massive stroke and could no longer do Chef. The church of Scientology got involved and used his leaving the show for health reasons as a way to attack the show. Of course Hayes was in no condition after the stroke to do anything or say anything about it.

[barbaraf4]

I was just stepping off of my own treadmill when I heard that Mr. Hayes had been found unconscious next to his still-running treadmill. Obviously Mr. Hayes did not wear his key/clip designed to shut off the treadmill if you fall. I don''t wear mine either. Someday you will read that I was found unconscious next to my still-running treadmill.

[inventagod2]

Now, THAT man was cool!

[bretster7]

txgrouch said,
I really liked his theme for "Sanford and Son."

That was tasty.





That was Quincy Jones.

[sfden]

The whole "church" business notwithstanding, he was as cool as cool gets - RIP, Baby

[carlylaine]

I did not agree with his ''chosen'' religion'', but then I don''t like any of the religions-they''re all man-made...the point is he was iconic and fantastic and it''s sad when someone of his remarkable caliber BITES THE BIG ONE.

[thewarning2]

RIP Isaac Hayes!!!!

[impeach__w]

With all the stuff going on in the world this was the worst news all week. So much talent. GoodBye Issac

[oneworldusa]

Heaven has been collecting legends lately... :(

[slim1h2o]

He was GREAT as the voice of the man-eating flower in the "Little Shop of Horrors."
Posted by txgrouch2006

Sorry,,,that was Levi Stubbs, of the 4 Tops that did the voice of the plant.

[mick7744]

He was GREAT as the voice of the man-eating flower in the "Little Shop of Horrors."
Posted by txgrouch2006

True...Issac Hayes was a great performer/writer and a major influence on today''s music...he was a rapper long before there was rap, but I believe credit for playing Audrey II in, ''Little Shop of Horrors''should in all fairness go to Levi Stubbs of The Four Topps.

An easy mistake for anyone to make.

[abmitus]

IDNNSG

You stupid inbreed ***!!!

ESADMF!!!!!!

[abmitus]

IDNNSG

You stupid inbreed ***!!!

ESADMF!!!!!!

[brianbwb-2009]

"Hold On, I''m Comin"
"When Something Is Wrong With My Baby"
"Deja Vu"
"Theme from Shaft"
"Walk On By"
"I Stand Accused"
"By the Time I Get To Phoenix"
"Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalamistic"
"Do Your Thing"
"Theme from Bumpy''s Bar"

Just some of the superlative-defying contributions this man gave the world.

Thank you, Mr Hayes, and good night.

BTW, walshsmith1 is a hater who lies, and claims the lie as from AP. Whether anit "Black", anti Scientologist, or just anti sanity, you have issues...

[downtowner97]

Stan: "They killed Chef!"
Kyle: "You basstards!"
Kenny: "Aff leaff iph wathn me"

[puritan9]

One of the best musicians ever!