ISAAC HAYES : 70s Icon 'Shaft' Singer & Composer Dies at 65

(August 20, 1942 -- August 10, 2008)

After Bernie Mac died at age 50 another famous icon died today

Isaac Hayes dies at Tennessee home -- official

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 06:12:00 08/11/2008


WASHINGTON -- American funk-soul legend and Academy Award-award winning musician Isaac Hayes was found dead Sunday at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, officials said. He was 65.

The talented singer, songwriter and composer, who won the Oscar in 1972 for best original song for the theme from "Shaft," was found unresponsive at his house by family members, Shelby county spokesman Steve Shular told CNN.

"Shelby county sheriff's deputies received a 911 call about 1:00 pm (1800 GMT) central time from family members. They had gone out at about noon today to a grocery store and came back and unfortunately found him unresponsive in the bedroom," he said.

Hayes was given CPR by paramedics but could not be revived.

"Family members believe at this point it is a medical condition that might have led to his death," said Shular, adding that Hayes was being treated for "a number of medical issues." He declined to elaborate further.

Hayes suffered a stroke in 2006.

DCRJ say on this: I remember the first time I saw Isaac Hayes on TV, he was singing and playing the theme song of 'Shaft' via his electric piano in the 1972 Oscar Awards on TV. SHAFT released in 1971 which starred the bad-ass Richard Roundtree as John Shaft (the man that would risk his neck for his brother man, a complicated man but no one understands him but his woman). The film was remade in 2000 which starred by an even badder-ass Samuel L. Jackson with Richard Roundtree in a supporting role and Isaac Hayes in a cameo. Isaac Hayes composed the theme song of 'Shaft' in the early 70s which is one of the presage of the upcoming disco era which will soon to be established by other musical icons of the 70s. Without Isaac Hayes' music in 'Shaft' there won't be any 70s films that would echo the Isaac Hayes sound like 'Saturday Night Fever', 'Carwash', 'Thank God It's Friday'.

Here's a video of Isaac Hayes performing his 70s classic song 'Shaft'