Isaac Hayes � a legendary mortal singer, songster, musician and producer whose career spanned four decades and world Health Organization achieved unexpected fame after in life as the voice of "South Park" character Chef � died Sunday afternoon (August 10), a representative for the Shelby County, Tennessee, sheriff's department told WMC-TV in Memphis.
A relative found Hayes unconscious on the floor near a treadmill inside his home, according to the station's Web site. Hayes was taken to Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, where he was pronounced stagnant at 2:08 p.m.
Deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department are chronic their investigation into Hayes' death, merely they believe no foul play was involved, the report said.
Hayes was around to begin work on a newfangled album for Stax Records, the legendary soul pronounce with which he had a long association. He had lately completed knead on a movie called ''Soul Men,'' in which he appears as himself. The plastic film stars Samuel Jackson and Bernie Mac, who died on Saturday.
Born in Covington, Tennessee, in 1942, Hayes was a key figure in the development of the 1960s Southern soul sound before going on to a successful solo career.
He made his world singing debut in church at the age of 5, and taught himself piano and saxophone ahead relocating to Memphis and performing with groups on that point, according to All-Music Guide. In 1964 he began playing with the Mar-Keys, which light-emitting diode to his long stint as a musician, songwriter and producer for Stax, where he worked with Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and many others.
Over the following years, Hayes and songwriting mate David Porter wrote a reported cc songs, including such soul classics as Sam & Dave's "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Comin'," Carla Thomas' "B-A-B-Y," and Johnnie Taylor's "I Had a Dream."
Hayes released his debut solo album in 1967, only his breakthrough came 2 years later with the classic Hot Buttered Soul, which featured lush, challenging arrangements and an innovational structure, and exerted a profound influence on many soul albums to come � non least Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.
In 1971 Hayes reached the peak of his melodious popularity with the single and album Shaft, the score from the film. The song not only when was an archetypal slice of funk that garnered Hayes a #1 single and Grammy and Academy Awards, the talk-singing vogue he employed on it had a huge influence on rap music.
After the strong albums Black Moses and Joy, Hayes' popularity waned in the climax years, exacerbated by a legal battle with Stax over royalties. He filed for bankruptcy in 1976.
Hayes continued to perform and record over the undermentioned years, simply he didn't reappear on the mainstream radar until 1997, when he provided the spokesperson for the "South Park" character Jerome "Chef" McElroy. Originally intended to be a one-off appearance, Hayes' character cursorily became super popular, providing the show's young characters with advice and oft breaking into comical R&B love songs that travesty some of the songs Hayes had written in the number one place. Hayes sang the notorious "Chocolate Salty Balls" on the "South Park" album Chief Aid.
A Scientologist since the mid nineties, Hayes parted company with the establish after a 2005 episode that skewered the organized religion. A weigh release announcing his separation from Comedy Central, which airs "South Park," was issued in March 2006. Hayes reportedly suffered a stroke in early 2006, and was occasionally unsteady in public appearances thereafter.
Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
The following statement was issued Sunday by the Soulsville Foundation:
"The Soulsville Foundation, which operates the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Stax Music Academy and the Soulsville Charter School, is so deeply saddened by the passing of Isaac Hayes that we are in state of shock. Isaac is one of the most dear members of the Stax family and we all cherish him. He testament be missed not only by us, but as well by the entire world and the millions of people world Health Organization love him as much as we do.
"Marc Willis, CEO of the Soulsville Foundation, aforesaid, 'Isaac was unique and an divine guidance to us all. His accomplishments as a musician are unique. But more than that, he was a very dear friend and peachy supporter of the Soulsville Foundation mission, particularly the work we do with children. We will miss him and his tremendous presence more than we can convey at this time.' "
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