Isaac Hayes Biography

American musician and actor Isaac Hayes is best known for his work on the hugely successful soundtrack for Shaft. He was subsequently noted for his voice work on South Park. His relatively unexpected death came at the age of sixty-five.

Isaac Lee Hayes Jr was born August 20, 1942 in Covington, Tennessee. His parents were Issac Hayes Sr and Eula Hayes. They died, however, when Hayes was still young, and he was subsequently raised by his grandparents.

Raised in an economically precarious household, Hayes’ first job was picking cotton. Pursuing this work, Hayes could not complete high school. He was later encouraged to obtain his GED, which he did at the age of twenty-one.

Always interested in music, Hayes was singing by the time he was five. Displaying a special aptitude, he taught himself instruments such as piano, organ, saxophone, and flute.

By the 1960s, Hayes had officially begun his recording endeavors. During this early phase in his career, Hayes won notoriety with singles such as “Soul Man,” “Hold On I’m Comin’,” and others.

His debut album came in 1968. It was entitled Presenting Isaac Hayes. Despite his promising work prior to its release, the album did not sell well with consumers.

The following year, he released Hot Buttered Soul. Spurred by the record label’s loss of Otis Redding in 1967, this album actually sold quite well. Among other milestones, it solidified his distinctive look and sound.

His next albums were The Isaac Hayes Movement and To Be Continued.

But his greatest breakthrough came in 1971 when he composed the soundtrack for Shaft. The title single became an instant hit across the globe, spending a significant amount of time on the Hot 100 list.

For his efforts, Hayes not only won international acclaim, but he also landed two Oscar nominations. He won for Best Music, Original Song.

In the wake of Shaft, Hayes made headlines with the album Black Moses and the films Three Tough Guys and Truck Turner. The soundtracks for these films were eventually re-appropriated by Quentin Tarantino for his Kill Bill series.

Despite commercial acclaim and success, Hayes found himself in debt. Suing his original record company, he won enough to cut down his debt and win his way out of his recording contract. He immediately founded HBS (Hot Buttered Soul) Records.

But the move was not enough. By 1976, he had to file for bankruptcy due to $6 million owed.

After losing everything (including any royalties on his previous work), Hayes took a hiatus from the limelight.

His comeback eventually came through film and television. To that end, he appeared as Hammer in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka from director and star Keenen Ivory Wayans. He also showed up in Mel Brooks’ comedy Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Stars included Cary Elwes and Amy Yasbeck.

He is perhaps best known, however, for his voice work in South Park. From 1997 to 2006, Hayes voiced the often-inappropriate character of Chef. A Scientologist since 1995, Hayes left the program after the show lampooned the religious faith.

In his personal life, Hayes allegedly fathered twelve children. His most recent wife was Adjowa Hayes, with whom he had one child.

Adjowa was made a widow on August 10, 2008. She found Hayes unconscious at their Memphis home, and he was subsequently pronounced dead at the Baptist Memorial Hospital.

Hayes remains known for his contribution to music, film, and charity work including the Isaac Hayes Foundation.

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