27 replies to this topic

[Jo_Pierce]

Hayes, 'Shaft' singer and disco presage, dies

From yahoo.com

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - 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.

[SolomanDHBlues]

When I was a kid, I used to listen to only records of Sesame Street or Disney. I had audio tapes of books in which you “turn the page when you hear the chimes ring like this.” I had a baby sitter, Junie, an older black woman who took very good care of me and protected me well (my mom was a single, working mother). I used to hear her old records, scratching from years of use, but never paid any attention to them.

It wasn’t until my insomnia as a child had me up late watching Saturday Night Live and Garrett Morris introduced Joliet Jake and Elwood Blues, the Blues Brothers, that I paid attention to something other than Muppets or Disney. There they came out, to a rousing tune, in their black suits and shades. I thought they were two of the coolest people on the planet! Then, they did something very Muppety to me--they began dancing. Their arms and legs flailing all about to the rhythm of the song. Soul Man was playing. That song, thanks to the Blues Brothers, was the first time anything other than the usual stuff I listened to as a kid turned my attention. For the longest time, because I didn’t know the song, I walked around and all I would sing is “Soul Man.”

After that, my mom got me a Sam & Dave album with Soul Man on it, soon after a Blues Brothers album on which they introduced names of original performers of the songs they sang, and I began to research those names and become acquainted with their music.

Among those names I discovered David Porter and Isaac Hayes.

From the Memphis Stax recording studios, Isaac Hayes and David Porter partnered together and created some of the very best music on the planet, including Soul Man. I was proud to get to hear records with Isaac Hayes’ music on them, and let him sit on the sidelines of my musical fandom.

I never forgot him, of course. After several years with Muley as The Official SpokesMule of the Ronald McDonald House of Memphis, my volunteerism with the house found Muley speaking at an Oscar Night America party, hosted at Isaac Hayes’ Food Music and Passion Restaurant and Club in Peabody Place here in Memphis. The party was in association with the Oscar Awards, and the gimmick was that people would be in costume of movie stars, and it worked out great!

My buddy Lin Workman and I made an appearance there as The Memphis Blues Brothers. We got to meet, greet, and seat Isaac Hayes at his personal table there at the club! I hope to find a photo to post of this evening.

I remember we were short on time and I almost didn’t get to do what we were supposed to do: Between the segments of the show there were performers singing, and Lin and I, also known that night as Linwood and Soloman DH Blues respectively, were to perform Soul Man on stage. They told us, “There isn’t enough time.” I was completely upset: Here I was, about to perform a song for a musical icon dressed as a character based on other musical icons, including the fact that it’s one of my all-time favorite songs, and they are telling me no? No way! I pushed and we were soon onstage performing Soul Man in front of the man who composed the song’s music.

Afterwards, Lin and I--er, Linwood and Soloman made their way to Isaac. “We didn’t skewer the song too bad, did we?” Asked Linwood. “No,” came that deep voice from Isaac, “you did just fine!”

The song had made it full circle back to Isaac Hayes, and I was happy.

Several years later, I think he remembered us as we met him and bought an autographed copy of a cookbook he co-wrote, and below is a link to a photo from that event.

I am saddened by our loss of Isaac, but as a fan, I’m thankful for the opportunity I had to perform Soul Man live on stage before the great Isaac Hayes, and I’m thankful for the years of entertainment this great talent has given us.

http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/2624573

Related news articles, one from The Commercial Appeal here in Memphis:
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/aug/10/isaac-hayes-memphis-soul-legend-dead-66/

From CNN.com:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/10/hayes.obit/index.html

[Syd-Blues]

I just heard the news, rest in peace, Issac Hayes.

[Vinnie Blues]

I just heard that piece of news this morning. He was not directly involved with the Blues Brothers but as Soloman DH Blues pointed it out above, he had penned some of the most memorable songs so emblematic of the 'soul' movement in music.

Through soul and R&B, Isaac Hayes was linked to the Blues Brothers who had supported the same movement through their covers (among them 'Soul Man' indeed). He was above all part of the Stax team, which has close links with the Blues Brothers through wonderful musicians such as Steve Cropper and Dunn Duck.

Yes, I would have seen Isaac Hayes performing a song (and why not a character, as he was a good actor too) in blaxploitation style in a 3rd BB movie. Well, now I guess he's playing and singing with John Belushi, John Brown, Cab Calloway, Bo Diddley, Ike Turner and others, for an after-life blues & soul jam.

I was very lucky to have seen Isaac Hayes perform during a Nice Jazz Festival concert last year. His voice had not changed in all these years, still deep, soulful and so thrilling ! Yes I was lucky now he's gone.

Isaac, from wherever you are, please say hello to my Pa, who loved your music so much and transmitted that love of soul music to me - he had the 'Hot Buttered Soul' and 'Truck Turner' LPs - which I still have and listened to with pleasure.

[440RULEZ]

RIP Mr. Soul Man

[ChAnOoD_bLuEs]

Nice story, Soloman...

It´s a pitty he isn´t with us now, he wasn´t too old... I hope he´ll jam with other greats in heaven. Rest In Peace.

[Blueblood]

That Isaac Hayes was one bad Mother f-

"Shut yo mouth"!

I'm just talkin' 'bout Isaac!?!

[dugalblues]

Saw some sad news today that Isaac Hayes just died at 65yrs young. Do not know much details at this time. He had a great career and wrote the hit "Soul Man".

[Flashcomix]

Dame shame. He wasn't so old at all.
Hope he's now jamming wit Otis and Jake.

[FatJim]

I loved the racey stuff he did with Millie Jackson, fantastic.

I know he fell out with the South Park boys over Scientology, but Chef was a brilliant character and I'm sure it did his career no harm!

another sad loss.

[bluesharp]

Jesus Christ,i can't beleive it!!
One of the most gifted song-writers ever!!
R.I.P. Isaac!!

[enrico.reb]

RIP Isaac

[alabamablues]

I was not sure where to post this, but I know several of you all here would wanna know about this... He was one of the original members of the Stax Movement as well as writer/arrangement for SOUL MAN...
He will be truly missed...
Here is the article... RIP Isaac...
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/10/hayes.obit/index.html

JC

[Harper-Chris]

alabamablues said:

I was not sure where to post this, but I know several of you all here would wanna know about this... He was one of the original members of the Stax Movement as well as writer/arrangement for SOUL MAN...
He will be truly missed...
Here is the article... RIP Isaac...
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/10/hayes.obit/index.html

JC

Thank you alabamablues for posting this!!!
RIP Isaac Hayes

[Harper-Chris]

RIP Isaac "Soulman" Hayes....

[itsallblack]

RIP ISAAC.
(I'm gonna git you sucka.) still makes me laugh.

[MBlues]

Flashcomix said:

Dame shame. He wasn't so old at all.
Hope he's now jamming wit Otis and Jake.

Yeah, I'm hopin' the same thing.

[Steam McQueen]

RIP Isaac Hayes!

Chef - Chocolate Salty Balls


http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum2/public/style_emoticons/default/icon_cool.gif

[FatJim]

Steam McQueen said:

RIP Isaac Hayes!

Chef - Chocolate Salty Balls


http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum2/public/style_emoticons/default/icon_cool.gif

Genius! too bad he fell with the Southpark boys.

[Vinnie Blues]

Steam McQueen said:

RIP Isaac Hayes!

Chef - Chocolate Salty Balls


http://www.bluesbrotherscentral.com/forum2/public/style_emoticons/default/icon_cool.gif

Oh dear... love that one ! :D I'm not a great cook at all but who knows... with him I may have learnt something ???

Loved the innuendo - but that's another story... (y'all know how perverse I can be... RED CARD !)