New York City, A Tacky Hotel & Isaac Hayes
There’s a lot being written around the music blogosphere about Isaac Hayes and rightly so.
Like a lot of white middle-American teenagers growing up in the 1970′s, my first encounter with his music was the Theme from Shaft. Fortunately, I heard more of his music beyond Shaft thanks to Street Stryder, the all-night DJ I’ve mentioned in past posts, who brought R&B records from NYC and played them on little old WENY radio.
In 1980, I was among the soon-to-be graduated disco kids who would sneak into the local club, Inside New York, and act like a bad John Travolta imitation. Don’t Let Go was one of my favorites (and still is).
Around that same time, I went on a field trip to NYC with the high school choir. I clearly remember dancing around a tacky hotel room with my friends Angela and Theresa, listening to Don’t Let Go (and a disco-mix of What A Fool Believes!) on the radio.
Today, I’m suffering a little from the “but-I-just-saw-him” syndrome. That is, I just saw him perform at the Waterfront Blue Festival last month. I wasn’t more than 10 feet from him as I shot a number of photos, including this one.
May he rest in peace.
Isaac Hayes
1942-2008
I would like to add my condolence, MJ. Isaac Hayes was a giant, even among the greats of Stax and the Soul Explosion. The Shaft double slab soundtrack was the first Stax Enterprise issue I ever bought – on sale from my public library owing to the fact it was so unpopular with borrowers. Hard to believe! This would have been about 1974. He was also a formative part in my introduction to jazz, as was that same small town library.
A great man, he will be sadly missed.
Take consolation from the fact you were fortunate enough to see him perform at the Waterfront so recently. I am envious.
HI
I once saw a wildwest movie(parody)in the 70s ,where Isaac hayes was in, and also Country Joe and others.
Do you know the name of the movie ?
Isaac and Country Joe were both in their fair share of movies…but I don’t know of whence they crossed paths…that’s one for some research.
Now I’m a little worried about Elvin Bishop’s health…he was looking a little longer in the tooth than Isaac.