The Voice of Chef from 'South Park' Was Inducted Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 24 Years Ago Today

On March 18, 2002, Isaac Hayes was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Hayes was considered a pioneer of Southern soul music, winning an Oscar and three Grammys over the course of his career. He also provided the voice of Chef on South Park.

Hayes began his music career in the '60s with the influential soul label Stax Records. His album Hot Buttered Soul — which contains the 18-minute track "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" — became Stax's first platinum-selling record.

'Shaft' Was Isaac Hayes' Magnum Opus

While Hayes released a string of platinum albums, his most successful work was the soundtrack for the 1971 blaxploitation film Shaft. The title track, "Theme from Shaft," earned Hayes an Oscar for best original song. He not only became the first Black winner in that category, but the first Black winner in any non-acting category.

Both the single and the soundtrack were massive commercial successes for Stax. The soundtrack topped the Billboard 200, while the single hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was a massive moment for soul music as it gained mainstream popularity.

In 2002, Hayes was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside The Ramones, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and Talking Heads. Alicia Keys gave the induction speech, raving that Hayes "made you believe he'd seen the promised land." Hayes then gave an acceptance speech and then, of course, gave a live performance of "Theme from Shaft."

Isaac Hayes' Controversial Exit from 'South Park'

Aside from his musical exploits, Hayes voiced Chef on South Park from 1997 until his departure in 2006. He left the show shortly after they spoofed Scientology in the infamous episode, "Trapped In the Closet." He released a statement at the time saying, "Religious beliefs are sacred to people, and at all times should be respected and honored. As a civil rights activist of the past 40 years, I cannot support a show that disrespects those beliefs and practices."

But in a 2016 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, his son Isaac Hayes III revealed the decision to leave wasn't really his father's. In early 2006, Hayes had a stroke and lost the ability to speak. "He really didn’t have that much comprehension," his son explained. "At the time, everybody around my father was involved in Scientology — his assistants, the core group of people. So someone quit South Park on Isaac Hayes’ behalf. We don’t know who."

Hayes died of another stroke in 2008.