Isaac Hayes

Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. (1942 - 2008) was an actor, musician, songwriter, composer, and singer. His music focused on soul and funk.

Hayes has been best known for composing music for the soundtrack to the 1971 blaxploitation film Shaft.

Hayes had also played a voice part on the controversially explicit cartoon, South Park, as the character "Chef". He continued for nine years until 2007, when he quit in (supposed) protest to the critical stance the show had made against Scientology (of which he was a member); however, prior to his departure he suffered a stroke the prior year, and it was commonly believed that fellow Scientologists actually were making decisions for him.

On August 10, 2008, Hayes was found unconscious near a still-running treadmill in his home in Memphis, Tennessee. He was later pronounced dead at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis. Hayes had suffered a stroke back in early 2006, and a recurrence of stroke may have been a catalyst in his death.