Isaac Hayes played Chef on South Park and wrote the amazing Shaft theme (see below) but these were just a couple of his many accomplishments. Hayes was also an accomplished singer/songwriter and acted in over 30 films. Here are some of his accomplishments as described in a statement from Stax Records and Concord Music Group.
To the world he was Black Moses, Ike The Ripper and, later, Chef from TV's South Park. To the rest of us who had the extraordinary opportunity to work with him in recent years, he was just Isaac. He was humble, unpretentious and refreshingly down-to-earth. Not bad for a man who delivered a record-setting seven #1 albums to the Billboard R&B chart, scored numerous awards (including multiple Grammys and 2 Academy Awards), appeared in over three dozen films and was named a Royal King of Ghana along the way.
In the '60s, the Covington, Tenn. native helped define the Stax Records sound, co-writing with David Porter such hits as "Soul Man," "Hold On (I'm Coming)," "B-A-B-Y," and "When Something's Wrong With My Baby" for Sam & Dave, Carla Thomas and Johnnie Taylor, among others.
He took soul music in a new direction with his 1969 album Hot Buttered Soul, which featured expansive re-interpretations of Jimmy Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and Bacharach and David's "Walk On By." The music's impact was matched only by the visual impact of the record's cover, which featured Hayes' signature bald head, gold chains and bare chest.
Two years later, his "Theme From Shaft" exploded on the pop and R&B charts, putting him on the map as an artist and icon. The rat-a-tat of that lone high-hat, that cultural-shifting kick of the wah-wah pedal -- no other piece of music signaled the true end of the '60s, ushering in the gritty 1970s than Isaac Hayes' theme from Shaft. The song won him not only a Grammy but two Oscars, for "Best Song" and "Best Score" in 1972. That same year he won a Grammy for his double album Black Moses. The hits continued for Hayes throughout the '70s.
In later years, Hayes' career took some other directions. He became the voice of Nickelodeon's Nick at Nite and later the voice of Chef in the animated series South Park. He had a role in the upcoming movie Soul Men with stars Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac (who also died this past weekend).
In 2007, Hayes participated in the Stax Records 50th Anniversary celebration shows in Memphis, Austin and Los Angeles. Despite health problems that slowed him down in recent years, he continued to tour the world. He had proudly returned to Stax Records, both as an artist and as an advisor in planning the reactivation of the imprint in 2007 by Concord Music Group. Isaac was also in the process of recording a new album for Stax.
To borrow a phrase from the man himself, he was "one bad mutha." And through the music he so generously left behind, the world will be talking about him and more importantly listening for lifetimes to come.
Fans worldwide are mourning the tragic loss of reggae star Lucky Dube. Lucky Dube was murdered last night in a car jacking in Rosettenville in Johannesburg. Lucky Dube had released a total of 22 albums over the past 25 years. His record label Gallo Record Company issued a statement on the Lucky Dube official website.
Although Lucky attempted to escape the scene, he had been fatally wounded from the hijacker's attempt to steal his motor vehicle, and he died almost instantly.
Senseless and random, the death of Lucky Dube leaves a great void in the music industry, as 25 years of music suddenly ends in tragedy.
South African born but globally revered, Lucky Dube was one of the country’s most toured and beloved artists ever. His music touched millions around the world, primarily through his 22 recorded albums - in Zulu, English and even Afrikaans - many of which have been record breakers with phenomenal sales from around the globe.
Lucky Dube was known worldwide. He was one of South Africa's most celebrated musicians. The BBC reports that Lucky Dube's friend TK, a music producer at TS records, called the senseless killing tragically ironic.
"The whole continent has lost a performer, musician, a guy that fought for freedom in his own way, in his own right, was just shot by some guy who wanted to take his car, you know, which is Mickey Mouse really," he said.
Opposition parties and the youth wing of the ruling African National Congress party have called on the government to take drastic measures against crime.
Callers to radio stations have urged the country's rugby team to show some form of respect when they take to the field in Saturday's World Cup final against England in Paris.
President Thabo Mbeki is attending the final and took time to pay tribute to the dreadlocked reggae star before he jetted off to France.
"It's indeed very very sad that this happens to an outstanding South African, an outstanding musician - world renowned," he said.
Lucky Dube was a victim of a a growing crime problem in South Africa. The Times Onlinesays shocked callers jamed radio airwaves complaining about the recent crime wave in South Africa and the government's inadequate reponse to it.
Shocked callers jammed late night radio phone in shows to lambast the government for failing to tackle crime.
In a sign of what is certain to become a national issue, caller after caller accused government ministers and President Thabo Mbeki of abandoning the people.
Lucky Dube once gave the following quote about rastafarianism: "If Rastafarianism is about having dreadlocks, smoking marijuana and believing that Haile Selassie is God, then I am not Rastafarian. But if it is about political, social and personal consciousness, then, yes, I am."
Luciano Pavarotti, a world reknowned Italian tenor, has died at age 71. He was suffering from pancreatic cancer. A quote from Pavarotti on his website says, "I think a life in music is a life beautifully spent and this is what I have devoted my life to."
Bloomberg reports that Pavarotti died at his home in Modena, Italy.
Luciano Pavarotti, the Italian tenor whose clarion lyric voice and performances from concert houses to outdoor stadiums made him a pop icon and the most famous opera singer since Enrico Caruso, has died. He was 71.
Pavarotti, who underwent surgery in New York for pancreatic cancer in 2006, died today at his home in Modena, Italy, according to his agent, Terri Robson. He was hospitalized in Modena in August for a high fever.
"In fitting with the approach that characterized his life and work, he remained positive until finally succumbing to the last stages of his illness," Robson said in a statement.
The bearded Pavarotti was the king of tenors from the late 1960s through the 1990s. He popularized opera more than any other singer through recordings that made him the best-selling classical artist ever and concerts in parks and stadiums around the world that were televised to millions.
With his huge frame, at times 300 pounds or more, and trademark white handkerchief that he used to wipe his brow, the charismatic Pavarotti became what his former manager Herbert Breslin called "a rock star for people over 30."
Obit entries can be found on the New York Times, The Guardian and BBC. His official website can be found at www.lucianopavarotti.com. Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras have been leading tributes to Pavarotti. There are many Pavarotti videos on YouTube. You can find some with this search. A post on Video Nacho also has links to several popular Pavarotti videos.
Isaac Hayes played Chef on South Park and wrote the amazing Shaft theme (see below) but these were just a couple of his many accomplishments. Hayes was also an accomplished singer/songwriter and acted in over 30 films. Here are some of his accomplishments as described in a statement from Stax Records and Concord Music Group.
Fans worldwide are mourning the tragic loss of reggae star Lucky Dube. Lucky Dube was murdered last night in a car jacking in Rosettenville in Johannesburg. Lucky Dube had released a total of 22 albums over the past 25 years. His record label Gallo Record Company issued a statement on the 
