ISAAC HAYES

Isaac Hayes was an American singer, actor, songwriter, and composer. He was one of the creative forces behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a session musician and record producer during the mid-1960s. Hayes’ songwriting catalog consists of iconic hits like “Hold On I’m Coming”, and “Soul Man” which he co-wrote and produced for Stax duo, Sam and Dave.

In the late 1960s, Hayes embarked on a solo career in which he would forever change the sound and style of R&B and soul music. His blending of gritty guitars, drums and bass fused with beautiful string, horn and woodwind orchestral arrangements would create what the world knows as “symphonic soul”. His breakout album Hot Buttered Soul released in (1969) would reimagine the pop song “Walk on By” by Dionne Warwick into a 12-minute masterpiece.

In addition to his solo career, he served as composer for the film Shaft (1971). The “Theme from Shaft”, Isaac won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1972. This made him the third black person to win an Academy Award ever.

Hayes also won two Grammy Awards for that same year in total making him a 3-time Grammy Winner.

As the era of Hip-Hop began to take shape in the late 80’s, Isaac Hayes’ music would serve as one of the foundational cornerstones of sampling. His music was sampled and turned into classic Hip-Hop hits by rap icons Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, WuTang Clan and countless others.

Hayes continues to be one of the most sampled artists of all time.

In 1997 Hayes was part of the founding cast of Comedy Central’s animated TV series South Park. He provided the voice for the character of “Chef”, the amorous elementary-school lunchroom cook, through the end of its ninth season in 2006. The role of Chef combined his work both as an actor and as a singer, thanks to the character’s penchant for making conversational points in the form of crudely suggestive soul songs. A song from the series performed by Chef, “Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You)”, received international radio airplay in 1999. It reached number one on the UK singles chart and also on the Irish singles chart. The track also appeared on the album Chef Aid: The South Park Album in 1998

In 2002, Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Isaac Hayes’ influence on music, fashion, style, and black masculinity are still felt today and continue to solidify his legacy as an American icon of entertainment and the personification of “Cool”.