Biography
Isaac Hayes was born on August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee, into extreme poverty as a sharecropping child. A self-taught pianist, saxophonist, and organist who sang in church choirs, he dropped out of school as a teen to perform in Memphis R&B groups and nightclubs, working odd jobs like in a slaughterhouse before recording his first album in 1962. By 1964, he joined Stax Records as a session musician and house band member, rising to prominence as a songwriter and producer partnering with David Porter on hits for Sam & Dave, such as 'Soul Man' and 'Hold On! I’m Comin’'.
Fun Facts
- Hot Buttered Soul (1969) featured only four tracks, with one—an 18-minute version of 'By the Time I Get to Phoenix'—taking up an entire album side, revolutionizing soul with extended, orchestrated cuts.
- He was the first African-American composer to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'Theme from Shaft' in 1972.
- Voiced the character Chef on South Park starting in 1997, gaining a new generation of fans.
- Nicknamed 'Black Moses' during his peak popularity in the 1970s.
Associated Acts
- South Park (1997–2006)
- Isaac Hayes Movement
- The Louisiana Gator Boys
- Delaney & Bonnie
- The Mar‐Keys
- Hayes & Porter
- Isaac Hayes Band - original
- The Stax Staff
- The Baracudas
- The Teen Town Singers
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- None prominently documented - Self-taught musician with no specific mentors or teachers noted in sources (N/A) [Early career]
Key Collaborators
- David Porter - Songwriting and production partner at Stax Records ('Soul Man', 'Hold On! I’m Comin’' for Sam & Dave) [1960s]
- Sam & Dave - Wrote and produced hits for the duo ('Soul Man', 'Hold On! I’m Comin’', 'You Don’t Know Like I Know') [1965-1968]
Artists Influenced
- Curtis Mayfield - Paved way for black composers in film soundtracks (Superfly soundtrack) [1970s]
- Norman Whitfield - Inspired to write for screen following Shaft success (Film scores) [1970s]
Connection Network
Current Artist
Collaborators
Influenced
Mentors
Has Page
No Page
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Shaft (Deluxe Edition) | 1971 | Album |
| And So It Goes | 2025-07-26 | Album |
| Stax Records Presents | 2024-05-20 | Album |
| Tough Guys | 2016-04-15 | Album |
| Hot Buttered Soul | 1969-06 | Album |
| Black Moses | 1971-11-01 | Album |
| Royal Rappin's | 1979 | Album |
| Don't Let Go (Expanded Edition) | 1979-01-01 | Album |
| Truck Turner (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) | 2016-01-01 | Album |
| ...To Be Continued | 2016-01-01 | Album |
| Chocolate Chip | 1975-01-01 | Album |
| Legenden des Soul - Isaac Hayes | 2014-01-01 | Album |
| Hot Buttered Soul (Deluxe Remaster w/bonus Interview) | 1969-06 | Album |
| The Isaac Hayes Movement | 2016-01-01 | Album |
| Hot Buttered Soul (Deluxe Remaster) | 1969-06 | Album |
Top Tracks
- Theme From Shaft - Remastered 2009 (Shaft (Deluxe Edition))
- Hung Up On My Baby (Tough Guys)
- Walk On By (Hot Buttered Soul)
- Walk On By (Stax Records Presents)
- Theme From Shaft (Stax Records Presents)
- I Can't Go to Sleep (feat. Ghostface Killah, RZA & Issac Hayes) (The W)
- Walk On By - Remastered 1991 Album Version
- Dark And Lovely (You Over There)
- Run Fay Run
- You Never Cross My Mind (Royal Rappin's)
External Links
Tags: #disco, #film-score, #film-soundtrack
References
Heard on WWOZ
Isaac Hayes has been played 16 times on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.