Isaac Hayes dies at 65
Police were called after his wife found him unconscious next to a moving treadmill. He was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Hayes, a flamboyant, deep-voiced performer, won an Oscar for the 1971 hit Theme From Shaft.
He was perhaps better known to a younger audience as the voice of Chef from the hit cartoon show, South Park.
The cause of death was not immediately known.
“Family members believe at this point it is a medical condition that might have led to his death,” a police spokesman said, adding Hayes was being treated for “a number of medical issues”.
Hayes suffered a stroke in 2006.
But he was about to begin work on a new album for Stax, the soul record label he helped build to legendary status.
British soul star Jazzie B, who became friends with Hayes after they performed together in the 1990s, described him as “a really nice man” and “as cool as ice”.
“He was an equal cornerstone to the evolution of hip-hop, what’s come to be known as R&B, and urban music in general,” he told BBC News.
“So there’s absolutely no doubt that Isaac Hayes will be truly missed and he was a very influential part of music as we hear it today.”
Collin Stanback from the Stax label told the Associated Press news agency that the star “embodies everything that’s soul music”.
He added: “When you think of soul music, you think of Isaac Hayes – the expression, the sound and the creativity that goes along with it.”
