Isaac Hayes Legendary Musician Dead at 65

Musical Legend Innovator of Soul, R&B, Rap and the Memphis Sound

Aug 11, 2008

Isaac Hayes inspired generations of musicians with groundbreaking Soul, R&B, The Memphis Sound and Rap. Hayes overcame a background of poverty to win two Grammy Awards.

Legendary soul crooner Isaac Hayes passed away on Sunday afternoon at the age of 65. According the a obituary in the Chicago Sun Times. Hayes was found by his wife and young son, collapsed next to a running treadmill. Hayes was unresponsive to efforts to revive him.

Isaac Hayes buttery baritone voice was immediately recognizable to generations of music lovers. Hayes sang in a "cool" style, prefacing his songs with raps before rap became a popular musical style. "Hot Buttered Soul" was the groundbreaking album that shot Hayes to stardom in 1969. "Theme From Shaft", the theme song for the movie "Shaft," was the song that propelled Hayes into even greater fame.

Isaac Hayes' biography is on the official Issac Hayes website. Hayes came from an impoverished background to grow into a legendary soul crooner and two time Grammy winner who inspired generations of musicians.

Isaac Hayes Early Biography

According to the official biography, Hayes was born in Covington, Tennessee, which is about thirty miles south of Memphis. He was born in poverty, to a sharecropper's family on August 20, 1942. Hayes was orphaned as an infant and raised, along with his sister, by their maternal grandparents. The family farmed and lived off the land.

The family moved to Memphis when Hayes was seven years old. His grandfather found work, but became ill and subsequently died, which is when the family really fell on hard times. As a youngster Isaac Hayes made money with menial labor, such as cutting lawns, picking cotton, running errands and delivering groceries. Later he worked as a bus boy and dishwasher at a restaurant, working his way up to short order cook.

Self conscious because of his poverty, Hayes secretly dropped out of school, but a delegation of teachers gathered hand - me -down clothes for the young man and encouraged his to stick it out. This experience left a mark on Hayes who became dedicated to advocating for literacy. Hayes graduated from Manassas Class of 1962 at the age of 21.

Hayes started to pursue music during high school. He joined the school band, and learned to play saxophone. Hayes sang gospel with a group called the Morning Stars, doo-wop with Sir Isaac & the Doo Dads, The Teen Tones and The Ambassadors. Hayes won seven scholarships for vocal music, but he chose not to pursue them. He landed a job as a piano player with band leader Floyd Newman.

Hayes began his recording career with Stax records, where he worked with legends Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Booker T & the MG's, the Mar-Keys, the Bar-Kays, Rufus & Carla Thomas and the Stax roster. The legendary singers created what was known as the Memphis Sound. The Memphis Sound was absorbed by musicians including , Elvis Presley, Ray Charles. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

Isaac Hayes' contribution to soul music will long be remembered by legions of fans, along with the entire music industry.

The copyright of the article Isaac Hayes Legendary Musician Dead at 65 in Soul Music is owned by Christine Nyholm. Permission to republish Isaac Hayes Legendary Musician Dead at 65 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.