Isaac Hayes

Long before becoming the voice of Chef on television's South Park, Isaac Hayes was once the self-appointed "Black Moses" of Soul. Beginning his career as a songwriting duo with David Porter, he penned such foot-stompers as "Hold On, I'm Comin'" and "Soul Man" for the immortal Stax label. It wasn't until the 1969 release of the much sampled and deservedly canonized Hot Buttered Soul that he became known as a solo performer. The record provided a cracking Funk backdrop (courtesy of the Bar-Kays) over symphonic arrangements. This formula worked to wider acclaim on the Oscar-winning Shaft soundtrack. His influential "bedroom funk" continued up until the late 1970s, when his work became more Disco-related. Still capable of releasing solid records (see the 1995 release Raw and Refined), Isaac Hayes took Soul to epic, theatrical proportions. This is a man who wore a gold chain-mail waistcoat onstage and could arguably out-love Barry White in a heartbeat.