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ISAAC HAYES Oscar winner and soul music icon died on Aug. 10 in Memphis at age 65

Hayes, best known for his pop/R&B classic ”Theme From Shaft” and more recently as the voice of Chef on South Park, was found next to an active treadmill by relatives, according to reports from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department in Memphis, Tennessee. Attempts to revive the singer were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead in Memphis shortly after 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

Hayes’ career began as a songwriter and producer for Stax Records in Memphis — a pioneering R&B label of the 1960s that was widely considered the southern counterpart to Motown in Detroit. His best known compositions from this period include ”Soul Man,” originally recorded by Sam & Dave, and later a big hit a second time when it was covered by the Blues Brothers in 1978, ”Hold On! I’m Comin’,” and Carla Thomas’ ”B-A-B-Y.” (See Rachel Sweet performing the song, a U.K. hit for her in 1978.)

Hayes’ breakout as a performer came in 1969 with his Hot Buttered Soul album. In 1971, his ”Theme from ‘Shaft,”’ won an Oscar and his performance at the Academy Awards catapulted him into the national consciousness. His increased profile led to a career in movies, starting with Tough Guys and Truck Turner in 1974. Other notable roles included John Carpenter’s Escape from New York (1981), I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988), and Hustle and Flow (2005). On television, he was the voice of South Park’s randy, but good-hearted Chef until 2006. Hayes had just finished work on a movie called Soul Men, which also stars Bernie Mac, who passed away on Saturday.

Theme From Shaft

Shaft
Who’s the black private dick
that’s a sex machine to all the chicks?
(Shaft!)
You’re damn right
Who is the man
that would risk his neck for his brother man?
(Shaft!)
Can ya dig it?
Who’s the cat that won’t cop out
when there’s danger all about
(Shaft!)
Right on
You see this cat Shaft is a bad mother-
(Shut your mouth)
But I’m talkin’ about Shaft
(Then we can dig it)
He’s a complicated man
but no one understands him but his woman

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