November 3, 2005From super funky to super cool, Isaac Hayes gave us the funkadelic soundtrack to the '70s blaxploitation movie “Shaft” and won an Oscar for his efforts.

He talked with the “Desert Post Weekly” about where music has been, where it's going and how it's survived through the ingenious talents of people dedicated to soul.

Helping to create what is known as the Memphis Sound from working with artists like Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Booker T & the MG's, the Mar-Keys, the Bar-kays and Rufus & Carla Thomas, Hayes' sound transformed pop music and was absorbed by world renown artists like Elvis Presley and Ray Charles to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

His dynamite performances have contributed to his success today, including supporting education through the World Literacy Crusade along with the creation of the Isaac Hayes Foundation.

I knew I had talent when I was 3 years old. I was born in Covington, Tenn., and, in fact, I went there the other day to give some money to a high school.

With 20 albums, Grammy awards and five films along with an enviable string of No. 1 records and singles, Hayes is like the Energizer bunny — he keeps going and going.

He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in June and now has a restaurant, best-selling cookbook, top secret barbecue sauces, radio show and almost 10 years of animated TV under his belt.

It's Concord Records. They bought Stax catalogue from Fantasy Records. They're re-releasing a lot of my material in a compilation of what I've done over the years. [Pauses] And I'm kind of excited about that.

Yeah, and it's very informative, and I don't wanna give it away because if I tell you about it, somebody might read it and get a jump on me about the e idea.

It was a very urban sound, but it had some components. It has some country, some blues, some gospel and R&B. It was all my stuff together — it was raw. It was raw with a lot of soul.

Back in the day, it seemed that music was more about the music. Today there seems to be more talking in songs. Do you think that young African-American artists today are as intimate with their music?

They consider me old school, but there is just nothing like old school music because you had to think and you had to sing with feeling. You had more substance with your lyrics. It was a lot of things going on back then — civil rights struggles and a lot of social issues, and we sang about it.

I was a Nat “King” Cole freak. The first talent show that I won big time was to a Nat “King” Cole song. Every time I sing one of his songs, I say to Natalie Cole, “Baby this is not for you, this is for your dad.” [Laughs] Also uh, Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Brook Benton — those are my idols.

Justin is talented! I was just in Memphis with him at the Memphis Cook Convention Center Saturday night being honored with him and David Porter. Justin's got some hip-hop movement in his sound, but he's talented. But I think some of the kids hopefully will discover the old school (music) because once you get that under your belt, you'll have sustained the balance.

When I was young, me and (producing partner) David Porter cranked songs out like an assembly line. When you're young and fresh with ideas you're eager, you're interested — not interesting — you're interested, and there's a big difference.

Then he said some guys are coming to town, and you're going to meet them. I didn't want to meet these guys, but I met Matt and Trey at the studio and boy, I had an attitude.

Since this is my first time performing there, they're gonna get some vintage Isaac Hayes, a little Chef, a little “Shaft” and some “Hot Buttered Soul.” It will be very interesting.

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