Isaac Hayes ~ Theme From "Shaft" 1971 Soul Purrfection Version

here is the performance https://youtu.be/lPE3C0GpDoA

Growing up in Detroit during the 60's and 70's had prepared me for the onslaught of soul music, but nothing prepared me for the Isaac Hayes performance of the theme from "Shaft". The sight of this big black bald headed man rising up from the stage in his chain vest signalled a new star. While the movie was considered to be a blaxploitation flick, it was simply a case of making the hard boiled detective a black man and Richard Roundtree personified him. Isaac won his first Grammy with that one. Isaac Lee Hayes was born August 20, 1942 in Covington, Tennessee into a sharecropper family. That meant as farmers, the family could pay the rent on the property by giving the landlord a portion of their harvest instead of money. Musically inclined he began singing gospel at the age of 5. He then taught himself how to play piano, organ, saxophone and flute. Dropping out of high school, his concerned teachers convinced him to complete his studies for his diploma and graduated at the age of 21. He turned down scholarship offers to help keep his family in food and shelter. He sated his musical appetite by playing gigs starting in the late 50's. That turned into his becoming a session player, vocalist and songwriter that led him to work for the legendary Stax label and quickly accumulated hit singles with Dave Porter as his co writer and songs like "Soul Man", "Hold On, I'm Comin'" and "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" for Sam & Dave. He was instrumental in creating the sound of Stax and finally recorded his first album, "Presenting Isaac Hayes" in 1968. Hayes chose to record his jazzier experiments and the album did not do well. His follow up "Hot Buttered Soul" from 1969 ushered in a new era in soul and established his sound. He even covered the Burt Bacharach written "Walk On By" putting his distinctive stamp on it. He was then asked by the producers of a movie about a black private detective action movie to write the score. He gave them a slow building volcano of a song that combined soul with an orchestra while retaining its street cred with the wah wah guitar and the distinctive high hat tinkling throughout. It was a worldwide smash, spending two weeks at the top of the charts in the US. I remember hearing this song on the radio one school day morning and then it was everywhere. Shaft the movie did very well and saved MGM from ruin, their 1.2 million investment in the movie translated to close to 11 million in ticket sales. Hayes also took him a Golden Globe for the song. He continued to work the TV Movie soundtracks game and did not have another hit until 1974, Joy Part 1 and then in 1979 a cover of Roy Hamilton's "Don't Let Go". Dionne Warwick had a hit with the Hayes written "Deja Vu" that same year. He became a voice actor as Chef for "South Park" and his vocal talents were often used by having him sing songs about getting down with his woman or some sexually suggestive subjects to hilarious effect. Hayes had 14 children with four wives since 1960. On August 10,2008 Hayes was found unresponsive next to a running treadmill that was still in operation. Taken to the hospital, he was declared dead on arrival and found that he died from a stroke. His iconic performance will never be forgotten and I thought it was time to bring this one back in a big way...extra long!

Видео Isaac Hayes ~ Theme From "Shaft" 1971 Soul Purrfection Version канала DJDiscoCat