The Many Lives of Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes might be forgiven for being slow to return to the recording studio. It's been six years since his last album of new material, "Raw and Refined," and he's been talking for a good two years now about making what he describes as a "classic R&B-soul" album.
Simply put, there's no time. Since 1996, the veteran singer, songwriter, producer and sometime actor has been busy five mornings a week hosting a radio show in New York, and last August, he started taping another show that airs every weeknight on a Memphis, Tenn., station.
Fortunately, his DJ duties don't intrude on his ability to provide the voice for the ultra-cool Chef on Comedy Central's "South Park" series, which he considers all play, no work. He's living that role outside "South Park" with his recently published cookbook ("Cooking With Heart & Soul," Putnam). He even has a line of barbecue sauces due to hit stores later this year.
When his contract with WRKS-FM in New York ends next year, Hayes, 58, says he'll delve into the musical projects he's had on the back burner. Until then, fans will have to wait a bit longer for new music from the man who wrote and produced dozens of Stax Records hits for '60s soul acts, including practically all of the classic R&B hits for Sam & Dave, before launching a successful solo career that peaked with his 1971 "Shaft" soundtrack.
Hayes works in a few concerts each year--usually quick weekend trips such as the one that brings him to the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts on Friday.
Question: What did you think of the remake of "Shaft"?
Answer: It was good, although it couldn't have the impact of the original, which was the first of its kind [a blaxploitation film that became a mainstream hit]. Sam Jackson did a great job. Musically, I didn't have the chance at the time to do the score, but I did record the theme again.
Q: With the "Shaft" theme in the public ear once again, did it open up opportunities for you to get back into film scoring?
A: I got a lot of offers, but I couldn't take them because I was already tied up with these other obligations. All that stuff takes time. Once I free myself of this albatross, then I can dedicate the time. But I don't want to sound negative, this radio show has served me well.
Q: Those R&B records in the '60s you wrote and produced were very compact, catchy songs, but when you started making your own albums, your music became much more atmospheric and expansive--was that a big shift for you?
