Isaac Hayes has been in the news again lately, nearly 20 years after his passing in 2008. While his family gets into what could be a genuine legal battle against Donald Trump, of all people, interest in the late singer has skyrocketed. Here are ten facts you didn’t know about Isaac Hayes.
Soul Man
Hayes rose to fame back in the 1970s for his musical talents. While working as a staff writer for Stax Records with David Porter, the pair wrote songs like wrote “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Coming.” Those songs, recorded by Sam and Dave, would go on to become some of Hayes’ most well-known records.
Walk on By
Fans of 70s pop music likely know Dionne Warwick’s iconic tune “Walk on By,” which was also sampled by Doja Cat for the record “Paint the Town Red.” Interestingly, Isaac Hayes also recorded a version of “Walk on By,” though his is much longer and more indulgent than Warwick’s take on the song. It’s a must-listen for any fan of soul music.
Shut Your Mouth
Hayes was also involved with the creation of the excellent 1971 blacksploitation action movie Shaft, for which he wrote the title song. That iconic piece of music has been parodied so often that people who haven’t even seen Shaft know that he’s one bad mo—shut your mouth!
Historic Oscar Win
The renowned musician won an Oscar for that title song, too! That was a big deal back in 1972, as it meant he was only the third African American to win an Academy Award after Hattie McDaniel for her role in Gone With the Wind and Sidney Poitier for his role in Lilies of the Field.
Scoring Big Pictures
Throughout the 70s and 80s, Hayes was well-known for his work scoring major motion pictures. In addition to Shaft, he also wrote the scores for Three Tough Guys and Truck Turner, keeping himself busy and further flexing his genius songwriting chops. Fans of Tarantino instantly recognize the Three Tough Guys dramatic sting, as it was repeated in Kill Bill Volume 1.
The Rockford Files
In the mid-70s, Hayes made a few guest appearances on The Rockford Files as Gandolph “Gandy” Fitch, a friend of Jim Rockford’s from his days behind bars. Rockford shows a nearly naïve loyalty to the violent Fitch, who is portrayed as an unscrupulous man with an unwavering dedication to his friends and a violent streak toward his enemies. Interestingly, his girlfriend in the show is played by Dionne Warwick.
Chef
Of course, many younger fans of Hayes probably know him best for his role as Chef on South Park from 1997 through 2006. His distinctive low voice and his history as a 70s icon were both used to comedic perfection in the show’s earliest seasons. The combination of juvenile humor and Hayes’ inherent gravitas provided an appropriately ridiculous pairing.
Scientology
It’d be tough to talk about Isaac Hayes and South Park without mentioning Scientology. Hayes was a devout member of the Church of Scientology since 1993 and wasn’t too pleased with South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker for the show’s many jokes at Scientology’s expense. In fact, the jokes incensed him so much he ended up quitting his role as Chef.
Read More: 10 Actors You Didn’t Know Were Scientologists
Chef’s Final Episode
Chef’s final episode on the show is a somewhat mean-spirited takedown of Hayes. The episode, titled “The Return of Chef,” uses archival audio of Hayes in the role and portrays Chef, and consequently Hayes, as being brainwashed by a group of extremists called the “Super Adventure Club.” Ironically, Parker and Stone have stated that they likely wouldn’t have made any more episodes centered around Scientology had it not been for Hayes’ statements about them to the media.
Read More: The 20 Best TV Theme Songs of All Time
Hayes’ Estate Battles Trump
More recently, Hayes has been in the news again after former US President and current Presidential candidate Donald Trump has been using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at his rallies. The late singer’s family is now threatening that it might sue for $3 million if Trump’s campaign doesn’t stop using Hayes’ songs. Hayes’ family says they’ve “asked repeatedly” for Trump to stop using the song, and cited 134 occasions when they’ve still used the song without permission.
Read More: Musicians Who Objected to Candidates Using Their Songs
