Isaac Hayes is Dead at 65

Published by Jeff Leins on: August 10th, 2008

Singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes has died at the age of 65.

According to the AP, a family member found Hayes unresponsive near a treadmill at his home in Memphis, Tennessee and he was pronounced dead about an hour later at the hospital. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Hayes won an Oscar for “Best Original Song” for the theme song from Shaft in 1972. His songs had a major influence on funk and soul music in the 70s.

He recently left the show “South Park” after lending his voice to the character Chef for nine years.

His most recent performance was a cameo appearance in Soul Men, a movie starring Samuel L. Jackson and the comedian Bernie Mac, who died yesterday.