Isaac Hayes

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Birthday:

20 August 1942, Covington, Tennessee, USA

Birth Name:

Isaac Lee Hayes Jr.

Height:

182 cm

Isaac Hayes was the second-born child of Isaac Sr. and Eula Hayes, but 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, only to be encouraged later by his former high school teachers to get his diploma. He earned his diploma at the age of 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 is a multi-talented composer, singer and arranger who plays 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). Show less «

"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 ot...Show more »

"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. Show less «

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...Show more »

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. Show less «

Know the business, learn the business, own something.

If you enjoy the fragrance of a rose, you must accept the thorns which it bears.

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 oth...Show more »

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. Show less «

There's always hurdles. So I just keep moving, just constantly redefining myself. That's how you stay in the race.

Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored.

I think the kids today need to hear more about morals and values.

I love music.

A certain administration which I won't call by name took the arts out of the schools, and that left the brothers out on the street with noth...Show more »

A certain administration which I won't call by name took the arts out of the schools, and that left the brothers out on the street with nothing, so they went to the turntables and started rhyming. Then they had a way to express themselves, and that's the birth of hip-hop. Show less «

The rappers have gone in and created a lot of hit music based upon my influence. And they'll tell you if you ask.

I influence people, hopefully on the positive side.

Have you ever wondered why young people take to music like fish to water? Maybe it's because music is fun. Plan and simple. It opens up thei...Show more »

Have you ever wondered why young people take to music like fish to water? Maybe it's because music is fun. Plan and simple. It opens up their minds to dream great dreams about where they can go and what they can do when they get older. Show less «

Guys in slavery sang praises to the Lord to deliver them from bondage.

I was a pop freak.

I first heard African drum rhythms and chants at the movies. Then, when I had the opportunity to go to Africa and visit the villages, I hear...Show more »

I first heard African drum rhythms and chants at the movies. Then, when I had the opportunity to go to Africa and visit the villages, I heard the real, raw, true rhythms and realized the origins of the old Negro spirituals I grew up with in the South. Show less «

I'd always loved strings. When I was in high school and saw strings playing on stage, an orchestra or a symphony, all those bows moving at t...Show more »

I'd always loved strings. When I was in high school and saw strings playing on stage, an orchestra or a symphony, all those bows moving at the same time... wow. Show less «

I used to stand in front of the mic and cry.