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US Singer-Songwriter Issac Lee Hayes Jr. has passed away in his home in Memphis, Tennessee. |
Police were called by Hayes’ wife, who found him unconcious, and he was taken to hospital and pronounced dead.
Raised in Tennessee as an orphan, Hayes was seen as one of the most influential black artists of his generation helping pave the way for the likes of Barry White and Millie Jackson.
He was also someone who helped the Civil Rights movement after his 1971 album ‘Black Moses’ got him seen as a black leader, the same year as his Original Song Oscar win for ‘Shaft’.
Our generation would better know him as Chef from South Park where he helped release the hit single ‘Chocolate Salty Balls’. Despite the controversy surrounding his departure from the show, his presence on the show helped ressurect Hayes’ career in a big way.
Despite his successes, Police say his health was never in the best shape stating that it could be a reason why he tragically died. Hayes also had a stroke in 2006, right when the South Park controversy happened.
On the same weekend we lost Bernie Mac, the world has yet again lost one of it’s great black entertainers.
He was 65 years old.
For a much more in depth obituary to the man, go here.
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