The Deli

Grammy Award, Academy Award winning Singer, Musician Songwriter, Actor Isaac Hayes died at his home in Shelby County, Tennessee at age 56.

His album “Hot Buttered Soul” made Hayes a star in 1969. His shaved head, gold chains and sunglasses gave him a compelling visual image. “Hot Buttered Soul” was groundbreaking in several ways: He sang in a new “cool” style, and he started the song with “Raps”.

He was best known for his hit, the theme song for the 1971 movie “Shaft” which launched Hayes into International Star status.

Isaak Hayes Finds Freedom At Last!

A pioneer into new musical forms, Hayes In the early 1970s work laid the groundwork for disco, and artists like Barry White for what became known as urban-contemporary music and for Rap (he was rapping before there was rap).

Hayes was a talented songwriter. He was part of a songwriting partnership with David Porter, in the 1960s they wrote classic hits for Sam and Dave such as “Hold On, I’m Coming,” “Soul Man,” (That was also a hit for John Belushi and Dan Ackroyd as the “Blues Brothers“) and “When Something is Wrong With My Baby.” They also wrote for other Stax artists including Carla Thomas. Hayes was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002

Hayes was also a talented actor. He had roles in movies including “Tough Guys,” “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka” and “Hustle & Flow.” He had recently completed the movie “Soul Men,” in which he played himself; the film also starred Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac, who died on Saturday .

Isaak Hayes – Shaft!