Isaac Hayes

Isaac Lee Hayes was an American singer, songwriter, actor and voice actor. Regarded as one of the greatest figures in the history of black music, he was one of the founding fathers of Memphis soul, as well as a pioneer of disco, funk and rap.

Hayes was born in Covington, Tennessee (USA) on August 20, 1942. His parents died while he was still a child, and he began his career as a singer in the church choir at the age of 5. He would go on to learn piano, saxophone and organ, all before moving to Memphis, where he launched his career as a musician and soul singer. During that same period he also tried his hand at acting and voice work.

In 1972 he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Theme From Shaft", which made him famous worldwide. In 1995 his "That Loving Feeling" appeared on the soundtrack of Mathieu Kassovitz's "La Haine", winner of the Best Director award at the Cannes Film Festival. He was also the voice of Chef in the series "South Park". In 2005, when the show's creators aired the episode "Trapped in the Closet", which poked fun at the Church of Scientology, of which the artist was a member, Hayes quit the South Park staff; creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker subsequently decided to write Chef out of the show, killing off the character in the first episode of the tenth season, "The Return of Chef".

Hayes received numerous accolades. In 2002 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2003 he received a BMI Icon Award, and the following year he was given an R&B Founders Award. In 2005 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Among his immortal masterpieces are albums of the calibre of "Hot Buttered Soul" and "Black Moses".

Isaac Hayes died on August 10, 2008, ten days before his 66th birthday. His lifeless body was found by his wife at his home in Memphis.