Hayes, Isaac

1942 – He was born on the 20th day of August this year in Covington, Tennessee.

1960 – He began his recording career in the early this year. As a session player for various acts of the Memphis-based Stax Records and later writing a string of hit songs with songwriting partner David Porter, including "You Don't Know Like I Know", "Soul Man" When Something Is Wrong with My Baby" and "Hold On I'm Comin" for Sam and Dave.

1969 – His next album was Hot Buttered Soul . This album is noted for his image (shaven skulled, gold jewelry, sunglasses, etc) and his distinct sound (extended orchestral songs, heavy on organs, horns, and guitars, deep bass vocals, etc).

1970 – He released two albums, The Isaac Hayes Movement and To Be Continued.

1971 – He won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement, "Theme from Shaft" (arranged with Johnny Allen).

1972 – He also won the Grammy’s for Best Instrumental Arrangement, "Theme From Shaft" (arranged with Johnny Allen).

1973 – He was back with an acclaimed live double album Live At Sahara Tahoe, and followed it up with the album Joy, his eighth album that featured the almost eerie beat of the fifteen-minute title track and a new direction moving away from covers.

1974 – He was featured in the Blaxploitation films Tough Guys and Truck Turner, and recorded acclaimed (but comparatively low-selling) soundtracks for both, Tough Guys being almost devoid of vocals and Truck Turner yielded a single with the title theme.

1977 – He was back with a new deal with Polydor Records, a live album of duets with Dionne Warwick did moderately well, and his comeback studio album New Horizon sold better and enjoyed a hit single "Out the Ghetto", and featured the popular "It's Heaven to me".

1978 – He record a sequel to Shaft ("Shaft II"), but was most famous for the single "Zeke The Freak", a song that would have a shelf life of decades and be a major part of the House movement in the UK.

1979 – He returns to the Top 40 with Don't Let Go and its disco-styled title track that became a hit single, and featured the classic "A Few More Kisses to go". Later in the year, he added vocals and worked on Millie Jackson's album Royal Rapping’s.

1992 – He was crowned an honorary king of Ghana's Ada district thanks to his humanitarian deeds.

1997 – He voiced the character "Chef", a singing ladies' man and elementary school cook, on the animated sitcom South Park.

2004 – He appeared in a recurring minor role as the Jaffa Tolok on the television series Star gate SG-1. The following year, he appeared in the critically acclaimed independent film Hustle & Flow.

2005 – He was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame alongside Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman, John Fogerty and his longtime writing partner David Porter.