Isaac Hayes

Age: 65 (passed away Aug. 10th, 2008)
Height: 5' 11 1/2"

Birth Place: Covington, Tennessee, USA
Born: Aug. 20th, 1942

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Isaac Hayes' Main TV Roles

Show	Character(s)
South Park	Chef

NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at IMDB

BIOGRAPHY:

Isaac Hayes was the second-born child of Isaac Sr. and Eula Hayes, but was raised by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Wade Sr. The child of a poor family, he grew up picking cotton in Covington, Tennessee. He dropped out of high school, only to be encouraged later by his former high school teachers to get his diploma. He earned his diploma at the age of 21. Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor (I), The Bar-Kays and Booker T. Jones (later of Booker T. & the M.G.s fame) were some of the "Memphis Sound" musical luminaries Hayes worked with during his early years as a budding musician and vocalist. He is a multi-talented composer, singer and arranger who plays the piano, vibraphone and saxophone equally well. In 1971 he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for a Motion Picture for the "Theme from Shaft" (1970) and was nominated for Best Original Dramatic Score for Shaft (1971).

TRIVIA:

First African American composer to win an Oscar for Best Original Song (1972) for The Theme from _Shaft (1971)_ (qv).
Has been a frequent songwriting collaborator with 'David Porter (VII)' (qv) since 1962.
Was pronounced dead at 2:08 pm at Baptist Memorial Medical Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee on August 10, 2008.
Friend of 'Aretha Franklin' (qv).
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
His character, "Chef", was killed off _"South Park" (1997)_ (qv) after his resignation for religious reasons.
Is named among others as inspiration for the 'Massive Attack' (qv) album "Blue Lines".
His performance as "Chef" in the TV series _"South Park" (1997)_ (qv) was supposed to be a one-time event, but audience reaction was so positive, "Chef" became a regular character.