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 .
Award-winning actor-comedian Bernie Mac has died at age 50 from complications of pneumonia. Best known for his role in films including “Ocean’s Eleven” and his award winning TV program “The Bernie Mac Show.”
“Wherever I am, I have to play, I have to put on a good show!”
“The world just got a little less funny,” said co-star George Clooney. Carl Reiner, who also appeared in the “Ocean’s” films along with Brad Pitt, said he was “in utter shock” because he thought Mac’s health was improving.
Bernie Mac also had starring roles in “Bad Santa,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle” and “Transformers.”
Mac suffered from Sarcoidosis, an inflammatory lung disease that produces tiny lumps of cells in the body’s organs, but had said the condition went into remission in 2005. He was recently hospitalized and treated for pneumonia, which his publicist said was not related to the disease.
Rumors were flying that 50 year old Comedian/Actor Bernie Mac has died. Looks like the Rumors are just that, as Mac is apparently still very much alive.
“Bernie Mac is still alive and being treated at a Chicago hospital for pneumonia and is expected to make a full recovery,” said his rep Danica Smith. (They say no Drugs were involved)
Mac’s pneumonia was not related to his sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease causing inflammation of the lungs.
The hospital has reported: “Mr. Mac is responding well to drugs/treatment and will be released soon.”
