Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes is known to millions today as the original voice of Chef from South Park, but in the 60s he was a songwriter and session musician for Stax Records, and in the 70s a prominent and influential soul and funk singer.

As a songwriter, he notably wrote (with David Porter) "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Coming" for Sam & Dave. In 1968 he released his debut solo album, and then his masterpiece Hot Buttered Soul the following year. It featured only four songs, three of which were covers. A 12-minute version of "Walk On By" (written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and known already as a three-minute Dionne Warwick song) became known as one of his greatest ever moments. One of the covers, ("By The Time I Get To Phoenix"), had an eight-minute spoken intro. This style of 'rapping' monologues over music became a habit of Hayes' through the 70s, making him a huge influence on the rap music that would emerge at the turn of the decade.

His fifth album, 1971's Shaft, was the soundtrack to the famous blaxploitation film of the same name. The title track of the album became a worldwide hit and won Hayes an Academy Award. Hayes went on to record disco music and enjoy several more hits, before his fame enjoyed a renaissance in the late 90s when he starred in South Park.

Isaac Hayes died in August 2008, he was 65.