[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1796]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          HONORING THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF THE LATE ISAAC HAYES

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 15, 2008

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, Isaac Hayes made an indelible impact on the 
hearts, minds and souls of his fans that has sustained for generations. 
Dick Clark observed: ``It's rare when an artist's talent can touch an 
entire generation of people. It's even rarer when that same influence 
affects several generations. Isaac made an imprint on the world of pop 
music unequaled by any other single performer.''
  Isaac Hayes hailed from humble beginnings in Covington, Tennessee. He 
spent his childhood and formative years in Memphis, years which shaped 
his future success as a songwriter, singer, and actor, graduating from 
Manassas High School. Undoubtedly, Isaac's influences can be attributed 
to his time spent in church singing gospel music with the Morning 
Stars, doo-wop with Sir Isaac & the Doo-Dads, the Teen Tones and the 
Ambassadors. Isaac Hayes became a soul music icon with his debut album, 
``Hot Buttered Soul,'' in 1969.
  His signature single and album ``The Theme From Shaft,'' came 2 years 
later winning an Academy Award for Best Original Song, the first 
Academy Award received by an African-American in a non-acting category, 
and two Grammys, one for composer of Best Original Score and one for 
Best Instrumental Arrangement with co-arranger Johnny Allen.
  Isaac Hayes will also be mourned by his Stax records songwriting and 
production partner, David Porter, with whom he wrote over 200 songs, 
including many classic hits such as: ``Soul Man,'' ``When Something Is 
Wrong With My Baby,'' and ``Hold on I'm Comin','' recorded by Sam and 
Dave, and ``B-A-B-Y'' made famous by Carla Thomas. The music created by 
Isaac and David embodies the funky, gritty and soulful Memphis sound 
and both gentlemen were both inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of 
Fame in 2002.

  Isaac Hayes was instrumental in staging the 1972 Wattstax concert 
performed at the Los Angeles Coliseum in the summer of 1972, an event 
that was a great source of pride for the African American Los Angeles 
community of Watts and which focused worldwide attention on issues of 
social and economic justice for that beleaguered community while also 
highlighting the great Memphis Stax sound.
  Through his early days at Stax Records, his success as a recording 
artist, his record-breaking international performances and his career 
in film and television, Isaac Hayes, our hometown hero, always proudly 
referred to his Memphis roots. Isaac served as an ambassador of 
Memphis' spirit and soul and, like Moses, is irreplaceable.
  Whereas Isaac Hayes started the Isaac Hayes Foundation, whose mission 
is to globally promote literacy, music education, nutritional 
education, and innovative programs to raise self-esteem among the 
underprivileged;
  Whereas Isaac Hayes was strongly devoted to promoting literacy 
through the world and was named the international spokesman for the 
Applied Scholastics' World Literacy Crusade;
  Whereas Isaac Hayes, through his Isaac Hayes Foundation, built an 
8,000 square foot educational facility in Ghana, West Africa, and was a 
strong advocate for the education and well-being of the children of 
Ghana; In 1992, in recognition of his humanitarian work, he was crowned 
an honorary king of Ghana's Ada district.
  Whereas Isaac Hayes donated thousands of dollars, through grants from 
his Isaac Hayes Foundation, to schools in Memphis, Nashville, and 
Washington, DC for the purpose of improving the musical education 
programs of those schools and for the purchase of musical instruments;
  Today is a day of both great sadness and joy--sadness that Isaac has 
left us too soon and joy that we were fortunate enough to have known 
him. Isaac was a personal friend and a supporter in my re-election bid, 
actively participating in my campaign. I appreciate his talent, his 
contributions to his fellow man and his friendship. He rose from the 
most humble of beginnings to fame and wealth but he never forgot where 
he came from and he retained his love and respect for his fellow human 
beings. Being in the presence of Isaac made one want to be a better 
person, to do good. There will never be another like him.

                          ____________________