Isaac Hayes dies at 65
August 11th, 2008 Posted in GeneralAccording to BBC News, Isaac Hayes passed away at his home yesterday.
More recently known for many years as the voice to South Park’s Chef, Hayes was an inspirational figure in the world of black music for several decades. Based on the sketchy information on his Wikipedia page, it looks like he collapsed some time yesterday whilst exercising on a treadmill – the same way we tragically lost Douglas Adams in 2001.
Hayes caused some controversy when he asked to be released from his contract as the voice for South Park’s Chef shortly after the cartoon lampooned his own belief system of Scientology. Sadly, his 13 years as a Scientologist clearly didn’t provide him with the promised superhuman longevity. South Park’s creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, famously parodied the situation within the cartoon itself several episodes later. During his time on South Park, the show expertly dissected and lampooned numerous paranormal and pseudoscientific beliefs, perhaps most satisfying of which was the episode awarding John Edward “Biggest Douche in the Universe” in 2002 – personally one of my favourite episodes and a landmark for comedy-based skepticism.
Isaac Hayes should be remembered first and foremost as a renowned humanitarian, a mould-breaking performer, a talented vocalist and an inspirational figure in the musical world. He should be associated with his enormously popular role as Chef, and for the laughter he brought to tens of millions of people across the world.
The Bard once wrote that “the evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones.” It is sad that humanity so often forgets a life dedicated to good causes and remembers only the fleeting moments of controversy. Let us, instead, take the many gifts Isaac Hayes gave us during his tragically shortened life, and be glad that such men exist. Shakespeare also said that “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.” Isaac Hayes played a great many parts, and played them as a virtuoso. If that’s not his epitaph, then it should be.
