DAVIES: The movie "Shaft" helped launched the blaxploitation genre of the '70s. The Academy Award-winning theme was composed and performed by Isaac Hayes. In the '60s, Hayes helped shape the sound of ...

Farai Chideya marks the 50th anniversary of Stax Records with her staff song pick of the week — Isaac Hayes' performance of Soulsville from the 1972 documentary, Wattstax. From one black arts festival ...

Last fall, Craft Recordings issued a four CD compilation focusing on Isaac Hayes and his recordings for Stax, Volt, and Enterprise. Spanning the years 1962 to 1976, the set cut a wide swathe of ...

1971 introduced moviegoers to an iconic character, John Shaft. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "THEME FROM SHAFT") UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL GROUP: (Singing) Shaft. ISAAC HAYES: Can you dig it? SHAPIRO: The film was a ...

Hayes helped shape the sound of Memphis soul in the 1960s, and later co-wrote hits for Sam & Dave and Carla Thomas before making albums of his own. Originally broadcast in 1994. DAVIES: The movie ...

UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL GROUP: (Singing) Shaft. ISAAC HAYES: Can you dig it? SHAPIRO: The film was a hit for then-floundering MGM Studios. "Shaft" inspired a number of other films that are referred to as ...