Isaac Hayes Biography: Songs, Cause of Death, Movies, TV Shows, Children, Wife, Net Worth, Age, Height, Parents

Isaac Hayes was an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor, renowned for his deep, rich voice and innovative contributions to soul music.

He first gained widespread recognition as a key creative force at Stax Records in the 1960s, where he co-wrote numerous hits for artists like Sam & Dave.

His own groundbreaking album, Hot Buttered Soul (1969), featured extended tracks and lush orchestration, redefining the soul genre.

Hayes achieved international fame with his Academy Award-winning “Theme from Shaft” (1971), which became emblematic of the blaxploitation film era.

Profile

• Full name: Isaac Lee Hayes Jr.
• Nickname: Black Moses
• Date of birth: August 20, 1942
• Age: Deceased
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Covington, Tennessee, USA
• State of origin: Tennessee
• Nationality: American
• Profession: Singer, songwriter, composer, actor
• Height: 1.80 m
• Parents: Isaac Hayes Sr. and Eula Hayes
• Siblings: N/A
• Spouse: Hayes was married four times; his spouses included Emily Ruth Watson, Mignon Harley, bank executive Emily Ruth Watson, and Adjowa Hayes.
• Children: Isaac Hayes III; other children’s names are not widely publicized.
• Relationship status: Married to Adjowa Hayes at the time of his death
• Religion: Hayes was a member of the Church of Scientology
• Ethnicity: African American
• Net worth: $2 million

Early Life and Education

Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. was born on August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee. Following the early deaths of his parents, Isaac Sr. and Eula Hayes, he was raised by his maternal grandparents in Memphis.

Growing up in a low-income household, Hayes faced numerous challenges. Despite these hardships, he discovered a passion for music at an early age, teaching himself to play the piano, organ, and saxophone.

He began singing publicly at the age of five in his local church. Hayes attended Manassas High School in Memphis, where he initially dropped out in the ninth grade to support his family but later returned to earn his diploma in 1962. His early experiences in Memphis, a city rich in musical heritage, profoundly influenced his future career.

Personal Life

Isaac Hayes was married four times. His first marriage was to Emily Ruth Watson in 1960, with whom he had two children. After their divorce, he married Mignon Harley in 1973, and they had one child together before divorcing in 1986. Hayes‘s third marriage was to bank executive Emily Ruth Watson in 1973, and they had one child together before divorcing in 1986.

His fourth and final marriage was to Adjowa Hayes in 2005, and they had one son together, Nana Kwadjo Hayes, born in 2006. In total, Hayes had twelve children, though not all their names are publicly known. Hayes was also a grandfather and great-grandfather.

In 1995, Hayes became a member of the Church of Scientology, which influenced various aspects of his personal and professional life. Despite facing financial difficulties and health issues later in life, Hayes remained active in music and philanthropy until his passing.

Career

Isaac Hayes began as a session musician at Stax Records in the early 1960s, playing keyboards for artists like Otis Redding. Collaborating with David Porter, Hayes co-wrote numerous hits for Sam & Dave, including “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I’m Comin’.”

His solo career took off with the release of Hot Buttered Soul in 1969, featuring extended tracks and orchestral arrangements that challenged traditional soul music formats.

Hayes composed the score for the 1971 film Shaft, with the “Theme from Shaft” earning him an Academy Award for Best Original Song, making him the first African American to win in that category.

He continued to release influential albums throughout the 1970s, such as Black Moses (1971). Hayes also pursued acting, appearing in films like Truck Turner (1974) and Escape from New York (1981).

In the late 1990s, he gained a new generation of fans by voicing Chef in the animated series South Park. Hayes‘s contributions to music and culture were profound, blending genres and breaking barriers.

Awards

Isaac Hayes received numerous accolades throughout his career, including:

• Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Theme from Shaft” (1972)
• Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement for “Theme from Shaft” (1972)
• Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for “Black Moses” (1972)
• Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2002)
• Induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2005)

Net Worth

At the time of his death in 2008, Isaac Hayes‘s net worth was estimated to be around $2 million. This wealth was primarily accumulated through his prolific music career, which included songwriting, performing, and producing.

Death

Isaac Hayes passed away on August 10, 2008, at his home in Memphis, Tennessee, just ten days before his 66th birthday. He was found unresponsive near a running treadmill by his wife, Adjowa, and was pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital. The cause of death was reported as a stroke.

Controversy

Isaac Hayes‘s career was not without controversy, particularly concerning his association with the Church of Scientology and his departure from the animated television series South Park.

Hayes joined the Church of Scientology in the mid-1990s, which influenced various aspects of his personal and professional life. His involvement with Scientology became a focal point of public discussion, especially when it intersected with his role on South Park.

In November 2005, South Park aired an episode titled “Trapped in the Closet,” which satirized Scientology and its prominent members, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Initially, Hayes did not publicly object to the episode.

However, in March 2006, a statement was released announcing his departure from the show, citing the show’s “intolerance and bigotry toward religious beliefs” as the reason. This move sparked debates about freedom of expression and religious sensitivity.

The creators of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, responded to Hayes‘s departure by highlighting what they perceived as a double standard. They pointed out that Hayes had previously participated in episodes that mocked various religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, without objection.

Stone remarked, “He has no problem – and he’s cashed plenty of checks – with our show making fun of Christians, Muslims, Mormons, or Jews.” This response suggested that Hayes‘s departure was influenced more by his affiliation with Scientology than by a general objection to religious satire.

Further complicating the situation, reports emerged that Hayes had suffered a stroke in January 2006, which impaired his motor skills and speech.

Some sources claimed that Hayes was not in a position to make such a decision independently and that the statement announcing his departure was made on his behalf, possibly by representatives from the Church of Scientology. Roger Friedman of FOX News reported that Hayes had significant health issues at the time, stating, “He was in no position to have quit anything.”

Social Media

N/A

Filmography

• Shaft (1971)
• Truck Turner (1974)
• Escape from New York (1981)
• I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (1988)
• Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993)
• Reindeer Games (2000)
• Hustle & Flow (2005)

Discography

• Presenting Isaac Hayes (1968)
• Hot Buttered Soul (1969)
• The Isaac Hayes Movement (1970)
• …To Be Continued (1970)
• Black Moses (1971)
• Joy (1973)
• Chocolate Chip (1975)
• Branded (1995)