birth name: Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr.
Isaac Hayes
Earned massive international acclaim and a niche in the record books from writing the Oscar-winning theme for the movie Shaft in 1971. But that was only the tip of the iceberg of Hayes's talents, which comprised skills as a multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and vocalist, as well as composer, songwriter and actor. The musical innovations he pioneered throughout his career made him an influential figure in the development of soul and disco, and he was later dubbed the “Original Rapper.” ~ The Guardian: Isaac Hayes Obituary ~ August 12, 2008 © The Guardian
Icon of soul. ~ Allmusic: Isaac Hayes ~ retrieved April 3, 2014 © Allmusic
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With his lascivious bass-baritone and flamboyant wardrobe, Mr. Hayes developed a musical persona that was an embodiment of the hyper-masculine, street-savvy characters of the so-called blaxploitation films of the era. In his theme song to Gordon Parks’s Shaft from 1971, the title character is summed up in a line that has become a classic of kitsch: “Who’s a black private dick/Who’s a sex machine to all the chicks?” ~ New York Times: Isaac Hayes Obituary ~ August 10, 2008 © New York Times
Isaac Hayes ~ Inducted in the 2005 Songwriters Hall Of Fame ~ Isaac Hayes and David Porter were one of the most successful songwriting partnerships of the 1960’s. After playing on several sessions for Otis Redding, Hayes was tapped to play keyboards in the Stax house band, and eventually established a partnership with songwriter David Porter. ~ 2005 © Songwriters Hall Of Fame
Isaac Hayes ~ Theme From Shaft ~ Named one of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock & Roll in 1995.
As a Producer or co-producer
Sam & Dave ~ Soul Man (Hayes/Porter) ~ Ranked #463 Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time in 2010 ~ For the follow-up to Hold On, I'm Comin, writer-producers Hayes and Porter decided to tinker with their formula: Porter asked singer Sam Moore to give him “the Bobby Bland squall,” guitarist Steve Cropper came up with the licks that set up the familiar blast of the Memphis Horns, and - voilà! - another soul classic was born. “We had no idea how good we were,” Hayes said of the partnership. ~ 2010 © Rolling Stone
As a Session musician, guest or band member
Otis Redding ~ Otis Blue (1965) ~ Named one of the Time 100 All-TIME Greatest Albums in 2010 ~ Otis Redding never made a bad album. Hell, Otis Redding never cut a bad song. But most of the LPs released in his tragically short career were, in the manner of the times, patched and cobbled together. Otis Blue is the Big O's one album that most plays like an album. ~ 2010 © TIME