R.I.P. Isaac Hayes

Some knew him as "Chef" from "South Park." Others knew him as an Oscar and Grammy-winning r&b titan dubbed "Black Moses" and loosed by the legendary Memphis imprint Stax. Still others recognized him as an actor who had appeared in everything from "Escape From New York" to "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." Whatever your level of familiarity with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and civil rights activist Isaac Hayes, you probably understood that he was a bad mother-shut your mouth! Hayes passed away yesterday at the age of 65.

Here's the AP obituary, E! Online has some remembrances here, and NPR has an archival interview here.

"Sound Effects" had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Hayes perform as part of the Stax soul revue at SXSW in Austin last March and interviewing him last January when Stax was announcing its return to active duty. Although he had been slowed somewhat by what he called a "setback"- it was reported as a stroke- he was in good spirits and he played at the Stax party with great energy and joy. When asked what his advice would be to the young musicians who would be signed to the new Stax he said simply "Live up to the music. You do that and you’ll have a good run."