H. Res. 1425 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

September 17, 2008. 

Whereas Isaac Hayes was a true renaissance man who 

achieved success in vocal performances, songwriting, humanitarian work, and television and motion picture endeavors, and as a radio show host, pianist, saxophone 

player, restaurateur, and cookbook author; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes greatly influenced contemporary music, 

and his style still resounds in the music of today; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes was born on August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee, and, orphaned in infancy, was raised 

by his maternal grandparents; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes spent his childhood and formative years 

in Memphis, Tennessee, years that shaped his future success as a songwriter, singer, and actor, working in cotton 

fields while going to school, and even shining shoes on 

the famous Beale Street; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes graduated from Manassas High School 

in Memphis in 1962 at the age of 21, having returned 

to school after dropping out; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes began singing at the age of 5 at his 

local church and soon after taught himself to play the 

piano, electronic organ, flute, and saxophone; 
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Whereas Isaac Hayes began playing in local bands, and at 

age 21 worked as a backup musician for Stax Records, 

for which he eventually became a noted music producer 

and in-house songwriter; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes became a prolific songwriter who, in 

partnership with his Stax Records songwriting and production partner, David Porter, wrote many classic hits 

for other artists, including ‘‘Hold On, I’m Comin’ ’’, ‘‘BA-B-Y’’, and ‘‘Soul Man’’; 

Whereas the partnership of Isaac Hayes and David Porter 

composed some 200 songs; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes created the groundbreaking musical 

score and theme song for the movie ‘‘Shaft’’; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes was the recipient of an Academy 

Award, a Golden Globe, the Edison Award, the NAACP 

Image Award, and two Grammy Awards; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes was inducted into the Rock and Roll 

Hall of Fame in 2002; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes, a BMI songwriter, received 5 BMI 

R&B Awards, 2 BMI Pop Awards, and 2 BMI Urban 

Awards, and was honored as a BMI Icon in 2003; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes was inducted into the Songwriters Hall 

of Fame on June 9, 2005; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes generated more than 12 million performances from his songs throughout his life; 

Whereas 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 that focused worldwide attention on 
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issues of social and economic justice for that beleaguered 

community, while also highlighting the great Memphis 

Stax sound; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes was a television and film actor, appearing in countless television shows and three dozen movies, 

including roles in ‘‘The A-Team’’, ‘‘The Fresh Prince of 

Bel Air’’, ‘‘Girlfriends’’, and ‘‘Miami Vice’’; 

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; 

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; 

Whereas the State of Tennessee issued a proclamation on August 18, 2008, honoring Isaac Hayes and his contribution to the State of Tennessee and the entire Nation; 

Whereas Isaac Hayes was a loving father of 12 children, 14 

grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren; and 

Whereas, with the passing of Isaac Hayes on August 10, 

2008, at his Memphis, Tennessee home, the Nation has 
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lost a talented and influential humanitarian, actor, artist, 

radio show host, and singer-songwriter: Now, therefore, 

be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) honors the life of Isaac Hayes; 

(2) recognizes Isaac Hayes for his invaluable contributions to American culture; 

(3) recommits itself to ensuring that artists such as 

Isaac Hayes receive fair protection under the copyright 

laws for their creative endeavors; and 

(4) extends condolences to his family on the death 

of this talented and beloved man. 

Attest: 

Clerk.