Here at 8Ball we were playing our classic Isaac Hayes albums on our ipod yesterday as the news came in that he had sadly past away aged 65. Most of the younger generation knew him as the cult figure and voice of Chef from South Park, for his chocolate, salty balls.
But Isaac Hayes was one of the most influential figures during soul’s early years, writing & producing of innovative tracks, but to music fans he will always be best known for his film score work, particularly his theme to Shaft (1971) for which he won an Oscar, a Golden Globe and a Grammy.
After cutting his teeth at Stax Records he formed a production stable at the label which utput which shaped the sound of Southern Soul with artists like Booker T, Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett.
In 1971 he composed the funk-based soundtrack for blaxploitation private detective film Shaft. The opening credit song, with its wahwah guitar and uber funky bass line, it is perhaps the best known example of 1970s funk. Its spoken word rap is one of the more recognisable pieces of the era, but Hayes’ musical arrangement is full of subtle orchestral effects that help emphasise the effortlessly cool persona of John Shaft.
After a decade or so of financial and career diffuculties he launched a comeback in 1995 with three acclaimed albums but it was his role in South Park revived his career. Naturally the makers of the controversial cartoon were keen to utilise his talents and Chef frequently sang in the show. An album of comedy songs called Chef Aid was released and Chocolate Salty Balls (P.S. I Love You) became a UK number one and his biggest international hit.

However the makers of South Park always keen to court controrversy lampooned the Scientology faith, which Hayes had been a member of since the early 90s. Consequently he left the show in bad bloode cloud in 2006. Inevitably, Chef himself became victim of South Park’s ruthless satire in a later episode with the character being brainwashed by “that fruity little club”.

Whatever we think of Scientology, heres to you Isaac…