- Born
- Died
- Birth nameIsaac Lee Hayes Jr.
- Nicknames
- The Black Moses
- Ike
- Height5′ 11½″ (1.82 m)
- Isaac Hayes, the second-born child of Eula and Isaac Hayes Sr., 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, but later his former high-school teachers to get his diploma, which he earned when he was 21. Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor, 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 was a multi-talented composer, singer, and arranger who played 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).- IMDb Mini Biography By: L. J. Allen-2
- SpousesAdjowa Hayes(May 2005 - August 10, 2008) (his death, 1 child)Mignon Harley(April 18, 1973 - 1986) (divorced, 2 children)Emily Ruth Watson(November 25, 1966 - November 29, 1972) (divorced, 3 children)Dancy Hayes(1960 - ?) (divorced)
- ChildrenJackie HayesFelicia HayesMelanie HayesNikki HayesLilli HayesDarius HayesVincent HayesNana Kwadjo Hayes
- ParentsIsaac Hayes Sr.Eula Hayes
- RelativesWillette Rankin(Sibling)
- Deep baritone voice
- Clean shaven head
- His role as Chef on South Park (1997).
- Starred alongside Bernie Mac in Soul Men (2008). It was to be their last film as they sadly passed away within a day of each other, Bernie on the 9th August 2008 and Isaac on the 10th August 2008.
- His performance as "Chef" in the TV series South Park (1997) was supposed to be a one-time event, but audience reaction was so positive, "Chef" became a regular character.
- His character, "Chef", was killed off South Park (1997) after his resignation for religious reasons.
- First African American composer to win an Oscar for Best Original Song (1972) for The Theme from Shaft (1971).
- Suffered a stroke in January 2006.
- "There is a place in this world for satire, but there is a time when satire ends and intolerance and bigotry towards religious beliefs of others begins. Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored. As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices." - On why he quit South Park (1997) in 2006.
- Elvis was a giant and influenced everyone in the business.
- Just, you know, you can't put bread in a cold oven. You know, you've got to take your time. You've got to heat it up. So that's what, that's what I like to do with my music. I like to build it, and build it into a maddening, exciting crescendo.
- Know the business, learn the business, own something.
- If you enjoy the fragrance of a rose, you must accept the thorns which it bears.
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