Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes, Jr. born on August 20, 1942 in Covington, Tennessee; died on August 10, 2008 in Memphis, Tennessee was an influential US-American soul musician. soul musiciancomposer and actor. He became known not only for his deep bass-baritone voice and his concise chanting, but also as a pioneer of rap and hip-hop. In 2002, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His commitment to the rights of African-Americans and his open commitment to the civil rights movement earned him the nickname “Black Moses”.

Isaac Hayes – A career in the spotlight

Hayes grew up in difficult circumstances: his mother died early and his father left the family, so he grew up with his grandparents. He had to work as a cotton picker from the age of eleven and later earned his living as a shoe shine boy on Beale Street in Memphis. He was musically influenced by the gospel choir, in which he sang, and the school orchestra, in which he played saxophone.

He brought himself piano and organ and started playing in dance bands and with a doo-wop-group. Finally, in 1964, he became a keyboardist at Stax Records and worked with the house band Booker T. & the M.G.’s. His collaboration with David Porter produced numerous hits, including “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Coming”.

Hayes started his solo career in 1967. His big breakthrough came in 1969 with the album “Hot Buttered Soul”, which revolutionized the Memphis sound. Hayes not only shaped an era musically, but also embodied the self-confidence of the African-American population with his eye-catching style – shaved head, gold chains and extravagant clothing. In 1971, he became world-famous with the title song of the film “Shaft” and won several awards, including the Oscar and the Golden Globe. His performance at the Wattstax Festival in 1972, where he sang “Theme from Shaft”, is considered the highlight of his career and a symbol of black emancipation.

Even after leaving Stax Records, Hayes remained successful and worked with artists such as Dionne Warwick. His albums of the late 1970s were a mixture of disco, funk and soul. Despite the bankruptcy of Stax, which hit him hard financially, Hayes remained active and worked as an actor. Supporting roles in series such as Miami Vice and films such as The Rattlesnake cemented his status. He later gained great popularity as the voice of the chef in the American animated series South Park.

Isaac Hayes was politically active throughout his life. He campaigned for civil rights and was active in various social projects. He was crowned King of Honor in Ghana in 1992 for his commitment. Despite his successes and social commitment, he ended his work on South Park in 2006, officially due to a stroke. However, it has been speculated that his affiliation with the Church of Scientology and its criticism in the series were the real reason.

On August 10, 2008, Isaac Hayes died at the age of 65 as a result of a stroke. He leaves behind his fourth wife Adjowa, to whom he had been married since 2005, and twelve children. Hayes will be remembered as a pioneer of soul, a gifted composer and a symbol of the emancipation of African-Americans. His music and his contribution to the civil rights movement make him one of the most influential figures in American music history.

Studio albums

• 1968 Presenting Isaac Hayes
• 1969 Hot Buttered Soul
• 1970 The Isaac Hayes Movement
• 1970 To Be Continued
• 1971 Shaft
• 1971 Black Moses
• 1972 In the Beginning
• 1972 Wattstax – The Living World
• 1973 Live at the Sahara Tahoe
• 1973 Joy
• 1974 Tough Guys
• 1974 Truck Turner
• 1975 Chocolate Chip
• 1975 Disco Connection
• 1975 Use Me
• 1976 Groove-a-Thon
• 1976 Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak)
• 1977 A Man and a Woman
• 1977 New Horizon
• 1978 For the Sake of Love
• 1978 Hotbed
• 1979 Don’t Let Go
• 1979 Royal Rappin’s
• 1980 And Once Again
• 1981 Lifetime Thing
• 1986 U-Turn
• 1988 Love Attack
• 1995 Branded
• 1995 Raw & Refined (as Isaac Hayes Movement)
• 2003 At Wattstax