SOUL MEN: Missing Bernie Mack & Isaac Hayes, But At Least Samuel Jackson Is Still Kicking!

Isaac Hayes,One Last Moment: "Never Can Say Goodbye"

Well Done Black Moses, Well Done

Issac Hayes Legacy Of Love Continutes As Memorial Brings Peace Between Scientolgist And Christians

Word that a Scientology minister would be presiding over the tribute in a a Christian church on Monday produced angry chatter on the Internet against both groups... David Porter, with whom Mr. Hayes wrote “Soul Man” and other hits for Stax Records, when asked what he made of the two factions coming together on one stage, Mr. Porter laughed. “Each of those components,” he said, “loved Isaac Hayes.”


Over 3000 were in attendance, Bootsy Collins, wore a get-up involving wide pinstripes, a kerchief, and rhinestone-coated sunglass lenses with peepholes in the shape of stars, and the actual royalty, Princess Naa Asie Ocansey of Ghana, who wore gold and red African finery and managed to get surprisingly low to the ground when she danced.

Stories fit into two general categories. Anne Archer and Kelly Preston, both actresses and Scientologists, detailed Mr. Hayes’s humanitarian work here and in Africa, while Al Bell, a co-owner of Stax, told how he came up with the name of Mr. Hayes’s first big album, “Hot Buttered Soul,” from a magazine advertisement for hot buttered rum.
All credit to our source SHAILA DEWAN of The New York Times
who has more details of a wonderful celebration of Isaac Hayes and the lives he has touched.

Today's Isaac Hayes Memorial Becomes Unnecessary Memphis Drama

Isaac Hayes, His New Wife and Son

Music Icon Isaac Hayes was a devout Scientologist. Everyone knew it and he was very proud of it. So why is today's memorial service for Isaac taking place at Hope Presbyterian Church? That's what hundreds of angry churches members want to know.

Well the family and the church clergy have tried to set the record straight with the following released statement emphasizing the event will be a tribute, not a religious service.

"Friends of many faiths and traditions will join the family to pay tribute to the music legend and reflect upon his life through speeches, musical performances, photos and video clips," Hayes's family said in a statement issued to the newspapers.

A publicist for the family said no Scientology minister would be officiating and Hope Presbyterian confirmed to the Commercial Appeal that Hayes's remains would not be at the event.

In addition, on Saturday September 27th at the Los Angeles Coliseum as part of the Farmers Angel City Classic Football Game (between Moorehouse College and Prairie View A & M), Staxx Records will feature a "5th Quarter Concert Tribute To Isaac Hayes". Stay tuned to this site as we reveal the "A" list of celebrities who will perform.

Hollywood Mourns Bernie Mac, Children of Isaac Hayes Discuss Their Father on Blogtalkradio

As the family of Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Isaac Hayes prepare to officially say goodbye to the man affectionately known as "Black Moses", 1000's gathered at the House of Hope in Chicago for Bernie Mac's memorial service. Details after the jump.

Bernie Mac's Recent Jet Cover

Here's Isaac With His New Wife and Youngest Child

Recently, Isaac Hayes III and Heather Hayes came on The Kevin Ross Show to share memories and mourn the loss of their father. Services for Isaac Hayes are scheduled tomorrow in Memphis.

Bernie’s fellow King of Comedy and very good friend Steve Harvey arrived with his wife Marjorie.

Bernie's TV family Dee Dee Davis, Camille Winbush, Jeremy Suarez and Kellita Smith came as a group.

Some fans slept outside overnight in hopes of securing a seat inside the House of Hope church on the city's South Side, the Chicago Tribune reports.

In an emotional service, photos from the comedian's career were shown on projectors and the White Sox organization presented Mac's widow Rhonda with a No. 1 jersey bearing his name, the paper reports.

Comedian George Wallace

Rev. Jesse Jackson and Chris Rock

King of Comedy's Cedric the Entertainer and Steve Harvey

Samuel L. Jackson and wife Latoya

Fly Jock Tom Joyner and Don Cheadle

During the service, Mayor Richard Daley remembered Mac as someone with "a heart and passion." Daley, who met with Mac a few weeks ago, added: "He knew the street, he knew the people, and that's why he was a king of comedy. He wanted to do something personally to get children away from the life of violence. . . . He never lost his soul in Chicago."

Mac, who suffered from the autoimmune disease sarcoidosis, passed away last Saturday from complications relating to pneumonia.

Of their final exchange a day before his death, Rhonda told PEOPLE: "I said, 'Hey Bernard. How are you?' and I kissed his forehead. He shrugged his shoulders, like 'I'm tired' and I said, 'I know you're tired.' Later on that night, it took a turn for the worse."

Rest In Peace Bernie Mac, And Keep Heaven Smiling

The Isaac Hayes I Knew

By Mi-Ling Stone Poole

When I heard the news last weekend that Isaac Hayes passed away I was saddened. I don’t think people really understood who he was.

Every newscast spoke of the “Shaft” soundtrack and his portrayal of the Chef on “South Park.” But he was deeper than that.

I remember going to one of his concerts in the late ‘70’s. He was definitely a sex symbol.

His bald head and chains portrayed a strong, sexy, black man. He was soulful, confident, and even a little intimidating, at a time when Black Power was still at the forefront. I was in my late teens and I’ll never forget that concert. He commanded the stage and combined rap with his own unique style of rhythm and blues.

During the early ‘90’s, I met Isaac at a Teen Expo in Kansas City. After a brief discussion he agreed to join my speaker’s bureau. This is when I was told about all of the positive things that he was doing for children. He told me that his mission in life was to push world literacy and to encourage businesses and individuals to build global relationships with Africa, specifically, Ghana.

Later, I encouraged him to participate in an independent film called, “Ninth Street.” I was an associate producer on the project and we needed a known name to help push the film. After Isaac signed on Martin Sheen also played a small role in the film while he was in town shooting another project.

Isaac agreed to compose the soundtrack and to portray Tippytoe, the owner of a local cab company in Junction City, Kan. His presence in the film and the scoring of the soundtrack gave importance to the project and helped Kevin Willmott, an African American filmmaker make a name for himself. Willmott went on to write for the ‘70’s television series and the controversial film, C.S.A. to name a few.

I was an associate producer on the project and Isaac was willing to help out because he was interested in helping African Americans. That’s the kind of person he was. A down to earth, Memphis man with a kind spirit, nothing like the persona he portrayed.

Hayes was also a spokesman for the World Literacy Crusade. He told me his mission was to encourage young people to become literate. His grandmother had inspired him during his early years in Memphis and he credited her for his success as a composer, producer, and musician.

He told me that a proud moment for him was when he was named honorary Nigerian Chieftain and was enstooled as an African American King in Ghana. His goal was to bring economic development there.

The last time I saw Isaac was at the premier of “Ninth Street.” The event was held at the Gem Theatre in the historic 18th & Vine district in Kansas City, Missouri.

This was the Isaac that I knew. This is not the Isaac that is being talked about in the news. So I just wanted to give my two cents. To let people know that there was a deeper side to Isaac Hayes, the sex symbol, the soul man.

He was a man of compassion. A man who was eager to help a brother out! I was sorry to hear the news and my heart goes out to his family and friends. But, I will be forever grateful for his participation in our little independent film.

Mi-Ling Stone Poole is an National Association of Black Journalists member living near Oklahoma City.

Angel City Classic Mourns The Loss of Black Moses, Will Continue Scheduled "Stax Records Fifth Quarter Tribute to Isaac Hayes"

This Cat Was A Bad Mutha...

The Farmers Insurance Group Angel City Classic team is deeply saddened to learn about the untimely death of incomparable singer, songwriter and music industry icon Isaac Hayes.

"Isaac Hayes will forever be known as a gifted musical genius. An Oscar and Grammy Award winning artist with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, we have all been anticipating how exciting it was going to be to have him be part of this Classic," said Black Educational Events CEO John T. Fleming, whose company is producing the event. "Now, the planned tribute has even greater meaning, as throngs of attendees will also be coming to pay their respects to Mr. Hayes' life and legacy."

Isaac Hayes Likely Died From A Stroke

Hayes was the first African American to win an Academy Award in a non-acting category for "Best Original Song" for the hit blockbuster "Shaft." With his deep baritone voice, signature bald head and innovative sense of style, the pioneer of urban soul laid the foundation for some of today's musical performers.

It was because of his many accomplishments that Hayes was scheduled to appear Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during the Concord Stax Fifth Quarter Concert immediately following the Classic featuring the Morehouse College Tigers and the Prairie View A&M Panthers.

This was the same venue where he gave his breakout performance over 35 years ago during Wattstax, a concert held to quell tensions and soothe a community still reeling from the Watts Riots during a very turbulent period in American history.

Stax Records VP of Artist & Repertoire, Collin Stanback, foresees an outpouring of artists joining what will inevitably be a huge celebration for Hayes. "This is of course tragic news about the loss of such a giant in the music business. Stax Records was in many ways the house that Isaac built as a prolific songwriter and performer and I can't think of a more fitting way to show our gratitude for everything he gave us than to fill the L.A. Coliseum with all of his fans," said Stanback.

Expected to be the largest gathering of African-Americans for a sporting event in the country with over 70,000 people, title sponsor Farmers Insurance Group is also joined by Concord Music Group/Stax Records, Tri-Destined Studios, McDonalds, Wells Fargo, Wachovia, Metro, Coors Light, and NBC Universal's "The Express" about the first Black Heisman Trophy winner.

Additional sponsors include MoneyGram, Law Offices of Skadden Arps, SCLC L.A., U.S. Bank, Avon, Enterprise, Food-4-Less, Personal Services Plus, N2U Management Group, Hammond Entertainment, 1 Plus One Management, 3BAAS Media, actress Jennifer Freeman, and actor/producer Nick Cannon's "Stop Hating" campaign.

For more information on the event, visit http://www.angelcityclassic.com/

Celebrating The Life of Isaac Hayes: Walk On By!

SHAFT'S ISAAC HAYES DEAD AT 65!!!

First Bernie Mac, Now the Black Community Loses Another Icon

Isaac Hayes, the pioneering singer, songwriter and musician whose relentless "Theme From Shaft" won Academy and Grammy awards, died Sunday in Memphis, according to Shelby County Sheriff's officials. The soulful cat that took the whole chain-wearing thing to another level was 65-years old.

We here at 3BAAS Media Group are devastated, particularly since we were working with Mr. Hayes record lapel, Concord Stax records, to pay tribute to him during the 5th Quarter Concert at the Farmers Angel City Classic next month here in Los Angeles. We are doing all the public relations and marketing for the event, which clearly now will now likely have even more high-profile artists coming out to honor this man and the incredible body of music he has left behind for all of us to share.

In the early 1970s, Hayes laid the groundwork for disco, for what became known as urban-contemporary music and for romantic crooners like Barry White. And he was rapping before there was rap.

His career hit another high in 1997 when he became the voice of Chef, the sensible school cook and devoted ladies man on the animated TV show "South Park."

The album "Hot Buttered Soul" made Hayes a star in 1969. His shaven head, gold chains and sunglasses gave him a compelling visual image.

"Hot Buttered Soul" was groundbreaking in several ways: He sang in a "cool" style unlike the usual histrionics of big-time soul singers. He prefaced the song with "raps," and the numbers ran longer than three minutes with lush arrangements.

"Jocks would play it at night," Hayes recalled in a 1999 Associated Press interview. "They could go to the bathroom, they could get a sandwich, or whatever."

Next came "Theme From Shaft," a No. 1 hit in 1971 from the film "Shaft" starring Richard Roundtree. "That was like the shot heard round the world," Hayes said in the 1999 interview.


At the Oscar ceremony in 1972, Hayes performed the song wearing an eye-popping amount of gold and received a standing ovation. TV Guide later chose it as No. 18 in its list of television's 25 most memorable moments. He won an Academy Award for the song and was nominated for another one for the score. The song and score also won him two Grammys.

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

Hayes was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

"I knew nothing about the business, or trends and things like that," he said. "I think it was a matter of timing. I didn't know what was unfolding."

A self-taught musician, he was hired in 1964 by Stax Records of Memphis as a backup pianist, working as a session musician for Otis Redding and others. He also played saxophone.

He began writing songs, establishing a songwriting partnership with David Porter, and in the 1960s they wrote such hits for Sam and Dave as "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Soul Man."

All this led to his recording contract.

In 1972, he won another Grammy for his album "Black Moses" and earned a nickname he reluctantly embraced. It was also during this period where Hayes had a breakout performance at Wattstax, a concert at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to cool tensions after the Watts Riots.

Hayes composed film scores for "Tough Guys" and "Truck Turner" besides "Shaft." He also did the song "Two Cool Guys" on the "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America" movie soundtrack in 1996. Additionally, he was the voice of Nickelodeon's "Nick at Nite" and had radio shows in New York City (1996 to 2002) and then in Memphis.

He was in several movies, including "It Could Happen to You" with Nicolas Cage, "Ninth Street" with Martin Sheen, "Reindeer Games" starring Ben Affleck and the blaxploitation parody "I'm Gonna Git You, Sucka."

In the 1999 interview, Hayes described the South Park cook as "a person that speaks his mind; he's sensitive enough to care for children; he's wise enough to not be put into the 'whack' category like everybody else in town — and he l-o-o-o-o-ves the ladies."

But Hayes angrily quit the show in 2006 after an episode mocked his Scientology religion. "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," he said.

Co-creator creators Matt Stone responded that Hayes "has no problem — and he's cashed plenty of checks — with our show making fun of Christians." A subsequent episode of the show seemingly killed off the Chef character.

Hayes was born in 1942 in a tin shack in Covington, Tenn., about 40 miles north of Memphis. He was raised by his maternal grandparents after his mother died and his father took off when he was 1 1/2. The family moved to Memphis when he was 6.

Hayes wanted to be a doctor, but got redirected when he won a talent contest in ninth grade by singing Nat King Cole's "Looking Back."

He held down various low-paying jobs, including shining shoes on the legendary Beale Street in Memphis. He also played gigs in rural Southern juke joints where at times he had to hit the floor because someone began shooting.

A family member found Hayes unresponsive near a treadmill and he was pronounced dead about an hour later at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis, according to the sheriff's office. The cause of death was not immediately known.

A new husband and father to a 2-year-old, 11 older children, and grandfather to 14, this giant (in more ways than one) will definitely be missed. (AP)

Developing...

Folks Who Get It: Wattstax, The Black Woodstock Went Down In LA 30 Years Ago This Week

Known as the "Black Woodstock" - the 7-hour sold-out concert taped at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum on Aug. 20, 1972 - "Wattstax: I Am Somebody!" will be shown tonight at the California African American Museum near downtown LA.

Stax Records artists, including Isaac Hayes, Rufus Thomas, the Barclays and more performed to benefit the Watts Summer Festival. Narrated by Richard Pryor, complete with the n-word (get over it - it was the '70s). BTW - That's Rev. Jesse Jackson in the photo with Isaac Hayes. Admission was $1. - We were there!