THE BLACK MOSES: ISAAC HAYES DEAD AT 65

With deep sadness and regret I bring to you, my faithful readers, the news of the death of yet another black shining star. The man people called The Black Moses", R&B Icon, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Actor Isaac Hayes has died at the age of 65. News reports are sketchy but this is what is known. On today, August 10, 2008, Hayes' wife found him on the floor near a treadmill inside his home located just east of Memphis, Tennessee. A Shelby County, Tennesee sheriff's deputy responded to Hayes' home. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to revived Bro. Hayes at his home he then was taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, where he was pronounced dead at 2:08pm, at the age of 65. Just 10 days before his 66th Earthday (birthday). The cause of death was not immediately known and foul play has not been suspected. Bro. Hayes won the 1972 Academy Award for Best Original Song for the "Theme From Shaft" and was also nominated for Best Original Score for "Shaft" in that same year. He won the Grammy Awards for Best Instrumental Arrangement, "Theme from Shaft" in 1972, Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or Television Special, "Theme from Shaft", and Best Pop Instrumental Performance by an Arranger, Composer, Orchestra and/or Choral Leader, for "Black Moses". Bro. Isaac Hayes was also an accomplished actor on the Big Screen and Television with memorable turns in over 25 motion pictures such as, "Soul in Cimema: Filming Shaft on Location" (1971), "The Black Moses of Soul" (1973), "Truck Turner" (1974), "Escape from New York" (1981), "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka" (1988), "Fire, Ice & Dynamite" (1990), "CB4" (1993), "Posse" (1993), "Blues Brothers" (1998), "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" (voice) (1999), "Shaft" (2000), "Dr. Dolittle 2" (voice)(2001) and "Hustle & Flow" (2005) just to name a few. And we can never forget Bro. Isaac's debut album from 1969 titled, "Hot Buttered Soul", that particular LP put "The Black Moses" on the map. I personally love Isaac Hayes' instrumental of "The Birth of Shaft", which can be found on his 1995 CD titled, "Raw & Refined", "Ike's Rap" from the 1986 LP "U-Turn" and "I Stand Accused" from the 1986 LP "The Best of Isaac Hayes Volume 1". On "Ike's Rap", Bro. Ike has just discovered to his heartbreak that his woman is on crack cocaine and his plea to her is DEEP and a must hear for yourself. "The Isaac Hayes Ultimate Collection" CD (2000) has both "The Birth of Shaft", "Ike's Rap", and the song provided in the video below. If you haven't heard either one or need a refresher on those cuts and more, I suggest you pick up "The Isaac Hayes Ultimate Collection" and chill! Bro. Isaac Hayes will greatly be missed in the world of music and the world at large. A big voice is silenced yet in our hearts the big man called "The Black Moses" lives on forever. As promised I now leave you with two of Bro. Ike's classic pieces of musical artistry. The first piece is 9 mintues 40 seconds. If you know anything about Isaac Hayes then you know he was known for his looong and lavish musical journeys which is just fine by us! That piece is called "Hyperbolicsyllabicsesquedalymystic", from his 1969 debut LP "Hot Buttered Soul". And yes, Bro. Hayes loved his looong and lavish song titles as well. Below that, is the video for his musical odyssey the 12 mintue classical ode to BLACK LOVE (right or wrong) titled, "I Stand Accused". This 12 mintue song, (cut down for this video to 10 mintues if you can call that a cut down ;-) is simply beautiful. The Music, The Background vocals, and of course the heartfelt soulful singing from Bro. Ike stirs the soul. The original 12 mintue version of this song is truly powerful and a MUST hear on CD! In cutting 2 mintues away from this song you won't believe the difference it makes toward the final conclusion. Peace Be Upon Our Brother. Sit Back, Enjoy The Music and Remember... Bro. Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. (August 20, 1942 - August 10, 2008)