Photo: Unknown photographer / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Isaac Hayes, born on August 20, 1942 in Covington, Tennessee, United States, was a singer, singer-songwriter and composer. Death is recorded on August 10, 2008, at the age of 65. Awards on record include IAS Freedom Medal, Academy Award for Best Original Song (1972), Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score (1972) and 3 more. Notable works include Theme from Shaft.
My Take
Isaac Hayes is one of those rare figures whose influence outgrew his fame, and that's saying something for a man who won an Oscar, multiple Grammys, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What moves me isn't the trophy shelf but the architecture of his sound: that hypnotic wah-wah groove of the Shaft theme essentially rewrote what film music could feel like. Behind the scenes at Stax with David Porter, he was a quiet engine of Southern soul. He passed in 2008, but his low, commanding voice and lush arrangements still shape how artists chase atmosphere today. A genuine giant.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Isaac Hayes
- Name (Japanese)
- アイザック・ヘイズ
- Reading
- あいざっく・へいず
- Born
- August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Leo / Horse
- Origin
- Covington, Tennessee, United States
- Occupation
- singer / actor / singer-songwriter / composer / film actor
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- IAS Freedom Medal
- 1972 Academy Award for Best Original Song
- 1972 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
- 1972 Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
- 1973 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
- 2002 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
3. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Theme from Shaft | — |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://isaachayes.com
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac%20Hayes
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A2%E3%82%A4%E3%82%B6%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%83%BB%E3%83%98%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BA
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206439
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-16
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Isaac Hayes born?
Born August 20, 1942.
When did Isaac Hayes die?
Died August 10, 2008, aged 65.
Where was Isaac Hayes from?
Isaac Hayes was from Covington, Tennessee, United States.
What did Isaac Hayes do?
Isaac Hayes worked as singer, actor, singer-songwriter, composer, film actor.
What was Isaac Hayes known for?
Notable works include Theme from Shaft.
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