Sad Day, Issac Hayes died

[Guest db99wj]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26125699/

Pioneering musician Isaac Hayes dead at 65 Memphis TV station says singer found on floor near home treadmill

BREAKING NEWS

MSNBC staff and news service reports

updated 3:12 p.m. CT, Sun., Aug. 10, 2008

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 1 1/2. 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.

© 2008 MSNBC Interactive

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26125699/

[Mike.357]

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.

by all means there should be a ban on treadmills.

Condolences to the family btw

[TripleDigitRide]

First is what Bernie Mac--now Issac Hayes?

[Guest superslacker]

I guess he ascended to the giant scientology spaceship in the sky. I need to figure out what brand of treadmill that was so I know not to buy it.

[strickj]

This is the reason my fat ass does not work out!

Its for the kids

[Guest Honest AK]

"Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?"

SHAFT!

RIP Isaac

[Im Neero]

I'm starting to suspect some sort of racist conspiracy. First Bernie Mac, then Isaac Hayes, and they tried to off Morgan Freeman.

[Guest Verbal Kint]

I'm starting to suspect some sort of racist conspiracy. First Bernie Mac, then Isaac Hayes, and they tried to off Morgan Freeman.

I'm just wondering who the next person is. As they say, the good one's always go in 3's.

[strickj]

I'm just wondering who the next person is. As they say, the good one's always go in 3's.

I knOw whO I'm hOping fOr

[Guest Verbal Kint]

I knOw whO I'm hOping fOr

I bet it's the same person I am.

[dralarms]

I bet it's the same person I am.

We would NOT be so lucky. It said "the good ones always go in 3's" So your wish is out of the question.

[strickj]

If what you said is true then it can not possibly be him

As they say, the good one's always go in 3's.

Edit: Drasted DrA! You foiled me again

[Guest bkelm18]

Well, since O is the world's biggest celebrity at the moment, I wouldn't lose all hope. I'm sure there were some people who disliked Bernie and Issac...

[bubbiesdad]

"Who's the black private dick that's a sex machine to all the chicks?"

SHAFT!

RIP Isaac

Shaft!

Who's the black private dick

That's a sex machine to all the chicks?

(Shaft!)

You're damn right

Who is the man

That would risk his neck for his brother man?

(Shaft!)

Can ya dig it?

Who's the cat that won't cop out

When there's danger all about

(Shaft!)

Right on

You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother--

(Shut your mouth)

But I'm talkin' about Shaft

(Then we can dig it)

He's a complicated man

But no one understands him but his woman

(John Shaft)

[Guest Honest AK]

cop: "Hey Shaft, where you think you're goin'?"

Shaft: "I'm goin' to get laid. Where you goin'"?

[deerslayer]

I thought it was hypocritical of him to quit South Park after they trashed Scientology. He was happy to take his paycheck while they were trashing every other group in America, but suddenly changed his mind when his work hit home. Beevis and Butthead was better, anyway.

[Guest eyebedam]

I thought it was hypocritical of him to quit South Park after they trashed Scientology. He was happy to take his paycheck while they were trashing every other group in America, but suddenly changed his mind when his work hit home. Beevis and Butthead was better, anyway.

I have to disagree on that 1. I was a huge fan of beavis & butthead but SouthPArk rocks. Its some funny stuff although sometimes highly offensive. I will keep the Avatar in honor of Isaac for a few days the the Whoo ride will reappear.

[Im Neero]

It's all about the Simpsons, really.

[Guest bkelm18]

You know, I used to love the Simpsons, but I think Family Guy has warped my cartoon humor because I just don't find The Simpsons all that funny anymore.

[G27]

With Bernie and Isaac gone, I'd be watching my back if I were Samuel L. Jackson...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111948/

"These things come in THREES!!!"

[Im Neero]

I think it's going to be George Foreman next, myself.

[Guest Valkyrie]

Guys guys guys... All those shows rock, but it's all about Family Guy!

My co-worker and I were both trying to figure out the "who's next" theory and both of us are hoping for the same one everyone around here is. If only we could get that lucky. lol

R.I.P Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac Definitely a sad week for entertainment.

[Guest Valkyrie]

With Bernie and Isaac gone, I'd be watching my back if I were Samuel L. Jackson...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111948/

"These things come in THREES!!!"

Hahaha I was thinking the same thing!

[Mike.357]

Naifeh says he'll miss 'good friend' Hayes

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Hayes, who died Sunday at age 65, was born just outside Naifeh's hometown of Covington in rural West Tennessee. Naifeh was about four years older than Hayes and the two men didn't meet until both had risen to prominence.

But their relationship had grown closer in recent years.

Naifeh used his clout to make sure the welcome signs along all major roadways entering Tipton County indicate that it is Hayes' birthplace. Naifeh keeps a replica of the road signs in his office at the Capitol complex.

"He was an icon and did a lot for the community and Tennessee," Naifeh said on Monday, citing a 2005 advertising campaign featuring Hayes and Dolly Parton that helped boost tourism in the state.

Hayes became a regular at Naifeh's annual "Coon Supper" in Covington. The two men would greet visitors and tell jokes.

Naifeh remembered Hayes for "how well he got along with people, the way he'd connect and mingle and made everyone feel very comfortable."

But Hayes avoided eating the signature raccoon dish at the event. "He's got hands," Hayes explained to The Commercial Appeal newspaper at this year's event. "Coon's got hands."

Hayes lived in Memphis, about 40 miles away, but Naifeh said Hayes had begun making weekly visits to the lawmaker's Covington property to fish.

"He was a good friend of mine," Naifeh said. "He'll be missed."

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/aug/12/naifeh-says-hell-miss-good-friend-hayes/

[HanSolo]

This just proves that Scientology kills.

Hayes has been having problems for about a year, but Scientology would not allow for him to get the required help. Also, they demanded he quit his job, but they still demanded him to pay his dues.