• August 20, 1942 - August 10, 2008
• He was the voice of Chef on the animated TV show South Park. On many episodes, he sang deep soul ballads to seduce ladies like Kathie Lee Gifford. A few months after suffering a stroke, Hayes issued a statement quitting the show because of a Scientology episode that was done at the end of Season 9. His son later said that Hayes didn't issue the statement, as his father would not be so hypocritical as to work on a show that makes fun of just about every culture and religion and then take offense when his religion is a target.
• He has his own cookbook called Cooking with Heart and Soul . One of the items is "Deep-Fried Jive Turkey."
• Before he started recording, he was a successful songwriter. He wrote many of Sam & Dave's hits in the '60s, including "Soul Man" and "Hold On I'm Coming."
• He played keyboards as a session musician for Stax Records, a legendary record label in Memphis.
• His full name is Isaac Lee Hayes. He was born in Covington, Tennessee.
• Isaac Hayes' main claim to immortality stems from his US #1 and UK #4 hit single "Theme From Shaft" in 1971. However, this was not his only hit. For example, "Disco Connection," as credited to the Isaac Hayes Movement, got as high as UK #10 in 1976. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Derek - Hull, England, for above 2
• Hayes was much better as a musician than as a business man. He declared bankruptcy in 1977 after the failure of his own label, Hot Buttered Soul Records.
• He earned the nickname the "Black Moses Of Soul," and was the first famous black performer to wear chains as a symbol of success.
• Hi parents died in a car accident when he was still an infant. He was raised by his grandparents in Covington, Tennessee. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 3
• As told to Terry Gross on National Public Radio, before he hit puberty, Hayes had a high, squeaky voice. He went through a dramatic voice change and ended up "Down in the basement."
• Hayes owned a 1972 Cadillac Ed Dorado that was fur-lined and plated in gold. One of the funkiest cars ever created, it is on display at the Stax Museum of American Soul Music.

Comments: 2

• Ken from Dupont, PaIsaac Hayes played the Duke of New York in John Carpenter's "Escape From New York" (1981). The Duke was A-Number One.
• Matthew from New York, NyInducted into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

More Songfacts:

HookBlues Traveler

The Blues Traveler song "Hook" is a Peter Pan reference, but also about the catchy hook of the song, which is what "brings you back."

Here I Go AgainWhitesnake

"Here I Go Again" was a #1 hit for Whitesnake in 1987, but it was first released in 1982 with the lyric, "Like a hobo I was born to walk alone."

LevonElton John

Elton John's classic "Levon" runs 5:22, and Elton wouldn't let his record company edit it down for the single. His next single was "Tiny Dancer," which is even longer, running 6:12.

Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit Of)Lou Bega

The party tune "Mambo No 5 (A Little Bit Of)" was the theme song for the 2000 Democratic Convention (the party of Bill Clinton), until someone noticed the line, "A little bit of Monica in my life."

KatmanduBob Seger

Katmandu, the capital of Nepal, was the archetype for faraway mysticism when Bob Seger wrote a song about it in 1975.

Only Wanna Be With YouHootie & the Blowfish

"Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & the Blowfish is a tribute to Bob Dylan, but Dylan sued them over it for using lyrics from his song "Idiot Wind."

Editor's Picks

David Bowie Leads the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Long-Haired MenSong Writing

Bowie's "activist" days of 1964 led to Ziggy Stardust.

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Marvin GayeFact or Fiction

Did Marvin try out with the Detroit Lions? Did he fake crazy to get out of military service? And what about the cross-dressing?

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Sub Pop Founder Bruce Pavitt On How To Create A Music SceneSong Writing

With $50 and a glue stick, Bruce Pavitt created Sub Pop, a fanzine-turned-label that gave the world Nirvana and grunge. He explains how motivated individuals can shift culture.