Hot Buttered Soul

We’re saddened to report the passing of Isaac Hayes, whose soul-drenched voice graced numerous urban-contemporary hits. Hayes was born in 1942 in a tin shack in a small town north of Memphis, Tennessee. He was self-taught as a musician and after paying his dues playing rough Southern juke joints, was hired by Stax Records in Memphis as session pianist. His 1969 album, Hot Buttered Soul made him a star, breaking new ground with his baritone voice, lush arrangements, spoken song intros, and long (3+ minutes) songs. In 1971, “Theme From Shaft” won him an Oscar and two Grammys, and his 1972 album, Black Moses, won him another Grammy. He appeared in several movies, and later assumed the role of “Chef” on South Park. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.