Happy Birthday Isaac Hayes

“If you enjoy the fragrance of a rose, you must accept the thorns which it bears” - Isaac Hayes

(Isaac Hayes)

Isaac Hayes was born on August 20th, 1942 in Covington, Tennessee, USA. Hayes was raised by his grandparents after his mother died and his father left the family. He grew up working on farms. At age 5 he began singing at his local church. He then taught himself to play the piano, the Hammond organ, the flute, and the saxophone. Hayes dropped out of high school but he was encouraged to complete school which he did at age 21. He was offered many music scholarships from several colleges but he had to turn them down to provide for his immediate family. Hayes 1st professional gig was in the 1950’s at Curry's Club in North Memphis. In the 1960’s he joined Stax Records where he was a session player for other acts. He then started writing songs for other musical artists with David Porter.

(Hayes (Right) and David Porter (Left))

In 1968 he released his 1st album “Presenting Isaac Hayes”. In 1969 he released “Hot Buttered Soul”. This was Stax most successful album of 1969.

(Hayes in 1969)

In 1970 he released “The Isaac Hayes Movement” and “To Be Continued”. In 1971 he composed the music for the film Shaft.

(Hayes in 1971)

He also made a cameo in the movie. Hayes won an academy award for best original song with “Theme from Shaft”. He was the 1st African American to win an academy award. Also in 1971 he released “Black Moses”.

(Hayes with an Oscar in 1971)

In 1972 he recorded the theme for the TV show “The Men”. In 1973 he released “Joy”. In 1974 he starred in and did the soundtracks for the movies Three Tough Guys and Truck Turner.

(Hayes in Three Tough Guys (1974))

Also in 1974 Hayes left Stax and formed his own label “Hot Buttered Soul” which was a subsidiary of ABC Records. Also in 1974 Hayes and a few friends took ownership of the basketball team the Memphis Tams. In 1975 he released “Chocolate Chip” and “Disco Connection”.

(Hayes in 1975)

In 1976 he released “Juicy Fruit” and “Groove A Thon”. Also in 1976 Hayes declared bankruptcy. In 1977 he lost his home and a lot of his property. Also in 1977 he signed with Polydor Records.

(Hayes in 1977)

In 1978 he released “For the Sake of Love” and “Hotbed”. In 1979 he released the single “Don’t Let Go”.

(Hayes in 1979)

In 1980 he released “And Once Again”. In 1981 he released “Lifetime Thing”. Also in 1981 he appeared in the movie Escape From New York.

(Hayes in Escape From New York (1981))

In 1986 he released “U Turn”. In 1988 he appeared in the movie I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.

(Hayes in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988))

Also in 1988 he released “Love Attack”. In 1991 he appeared in the movie Prime Target. Also in 1991 he did a song with Barry White called “Dark and Lovely”.

(Hayes (Right) and Barry White (Left))

In 1993 he appeared in the movie Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Also in 1993 Hayes became a Scientologist. In 1995 he appeared in the TV show “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air”.

(Hayes (Right) with Will Smith (Left) on “The Fresh Prince of Bel AIr”)

Also in 1995 he released “Branded”. In 1997 he joined the TV show “South Park”.

(Hayes’ character “Chef” on “South Park”)

In 1999 he created the Isaac Hayes Foundation. In 2000 he appeared on the soundtrack of the movie The Magnet. In 2002 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

(Hayes in 2002)

In 2004 he appeared in the TV show “Stargate SG-1”. In 2005 he appeared in the movie Hustle & Flow. In 2006 he left the TV show “South Park” due to not being paid enough for his role. Also in 2006 Hayes had a stroke. In 2008 he appeared in the movie Soul Men.

(Hayes (Center) with Bernie Mac (Left) and Samuel L. Jackson (Right) in Soul Men (2008))

On August 10th, 2008 Isaac Hayes died of a stroke in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He was 65 years old.

(Hayes’ grave stone)

Today is his 74th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Isaac Hayes.

Albums by Isaac Hayes

• “Presenting Isaac Hayes” (1968)
• “Hot Buttered Soul” (1969)
• “The Isaac Hayes Movement” (1970)
• “...To Be Continued” (1970)
• “Black Moses” (1971)
• “Joy” (1973)
• “Chocolate Chip” (1975)
• “Disco Connection” (1975)
• “Groove-A-Thon” (1976)
• “Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak)” (1976)
• “New Horizon” (1977)
• “For the Sake of Love” (1978)
• “Don't Let Go” (1979)
• “And Once Again” (1980)
• “Lifetime Thing” (1981)
• “U-Turn” (1986)
• “Love Attack” (1988)
• “Raw & Refined” (1995)
• “Branded” (1995)

Films Starring Isaac Hayes

• Wattstax (1973) as himself
• Save the Children (1973) as himself
• Three Tough Guys (1974) as Lee
• Truck Turner (1974) as Mac Turner
• It Seemed Like A Good Idea At the Time (1976) as Moriarty
• Escape From New York (1981) as The Duke
• I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988) as Hammer
• All Dogs Go to Heaven (1989) as Ike
• Fire Ice and Dynamite (1990) as Hitek Leader
• CB4 (1993) as Owner
• Posse (1993) as Cable
• Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) as Asneeze
• It Could Happen to You (1994) as Angel Dupree
• Flipper (1996) as Sheriff Buck Cowan
• Uncle Sam (1997) as Jed Crowley
• Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) as The Louisiana Gator Boys
• South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999) as Chef
• Reindeer Games (2000) as Zook
• Shaft (2000) Uncredited
• Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) as Possum
• Anonymous Rex (2004) as Elegant Man
• Hustle & Flow (2005) as Arnel
• Soul Men (2008) as himself
• Kill Switch (2008) as Coroner
• Return to Sleepaway Camp (2008) as Charlie

Videos of Isaac Hayes

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8ha68LhsjU  “Isaac Hayes - Walk On By”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKdUQQ8vI1Y  “Isaac hayes I Stand Accused (live)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20XTU8ZHo1c  “Isaac Hayes - "The Look Of Love" (Live) (1973)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2cHkMwzOiM  “Isaac Hayes - Shaft - live 1973”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMEHaUifG8Q  “ISAAC HAYES - SOULSVILLE. LIVE FILMED PERFORMANCE 1972”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DEZy5ZEQTU  “Isaac Hayes winning an Oscar® for "Shaft"
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGEHBOVyXnI  “ISAAC HAYES (Live) - Never Can Say Goodbye”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4KjCT37OaU  “Isaac Hayes Live - Joy”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sPFSujvf9s  “Three Tough Guys (1974) - Movie Trailer - Featuring Isaac Hayes - Blaxploitation Movie Trailers”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUHmQ0rfejw  “Truck Turner (Trailer)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR6SKLE8nZM  “Isaac Hayes Don't Let Go 1979”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhe58xORWG0  “I'm Gonna Git You Sucka You can never have enough”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORztFURoec0  “I'm Gonna Git You Sucka: How Much for a Order of Ribs?”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tM9rnqdAx00  “Isaac Hayes-Chocolate Salty Balls Live”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACDOBjPHqb8  “Chef chocolate salty balls”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9PRXTy0sbQ  “Isaac Hayes - interview [July 1994]”

(P.S. sorry for the late post)