It has been a tough weekend with the untimely passing of comedian Bernie Mac, and now it just got tougher. Isaac Hayes, who won as Oscar for one of the most memorable theme songs ever with "Shaft," has died. He was 65 years ago.
Hayes was found unconscious at his home in Memphis, Tennessee by relatives near his treadmill which was still running. Parademics attempted to revive him and took him to a nearby hospital, but he died around 2 PM.
No foul play is suspected, the agency said in a written statement.
Hayes was a longtime songwriter and arranger for Stax Records in Memphis, playing in the studio's backup band and crafting tunes for artists such as Otis Redding and Sam and Dave in the 1960s.
He released his first solo album in 1967, and his 1969 follow-up, "Hot Buttered Soul," became a platinum hit.
In 1971, the theme from "Shaft" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and won an Academy Award for best original theme song. The song and the movie score also won Grammy awards for best original score and movie theme.
Hayes won a third Grammy for pop instrumental performance with the title track to his 1972 "Black Moses" album.
From the late 1990s through 2006, Hayes provided the voice of "Chef" for Comedy Central's raunchy animated series "South Park," as well as numerous songs.
The role introduced him to a new generation of fans, but he left after the show lampooned his own religion, the Church of Scientology.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Reported by CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/10/hayes.obit/index.html
Hayes was found unconscious at his home in Memphis, Tennessee by relatives near his treadmill which was still running. Parademics attempted to revive him and took him to a nearby hospital, but he died around 2 PM.
No foul play is suspected, the agency said in a written statement.
Hayes was a longtime songwriter and arranger for Stax Records in Memphis, playing in the studio's backup band and crafting tunes for artists such as Otis Redding and Sam and Dave in the 1960s.
He released his first solo album in 1967, and his 1969 follow-up, "Hot Buttered Soul," became a platinum hit.
In 1971, the theme from "Shaft" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and won an Academy Award for best original theme song. The song and the movie score also won Grammy awards for best original score and movie theme.
Hayes won a third Grammy for pop instrumental performance with the title track to his 1972 "Black Moses" album.
From the late 1990s through 2006, Hayes provided the voice of "Chef" for Comedy Central's raunchy animated series "South Park," as well as numerous songs.
The role introduced him to a new generation of fans, but he left after the show lampooned his own religion, the Church of Scientology.
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Reported by CNN: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/08/10/hayes.obit/index.html
This weekend blows big time!!