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, hu-
manitarian work, and television and motion picture en-
deavors, 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 Cov-
ington, 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 suc-
cess 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 pro-
duction partner, David Porter, wrote many classic hits 
for other artists, including ‘‘Hold On, I’m Comin’ ’’, ‘‘B- 
A-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 per-
formances 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 commu-
nity 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, appear-
ing 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 edu-
cation, nutritional education, and innovative programs to 
raise self-esteem among the underprivileged; 
Whereas Isaac Hayes was strongly devoted to promoting lit-
eracy 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 Au-
gust 18, 2008, honoring Isaac Hayes and his contribu-
tion 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 con-
tributions 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.