Overview
Isacc Hayes started as a session pianist at Stax. His songwriting abilities contributed to the success of Sam and Dave with hits like Soul Man. Hayes could be considered the originator of the Sweet Soul style when he used his deep warm voice in a talk-over style in may of his songs. Frequently heard using strings in his recordings, his style was a combination of Jazz, R&B, and easy listening Pop. Hayes once again used his unmistakable voice to set the tone for the detective fiction Shaft. This funk, pre-rap style song earned Hayes an Academy Award for best film score, a first for any black composer.