FROM THE ARCHIVES: Isaac Hayes (2000) interview with Darren Paltrowitz

In late 2000, I had the pleasure of speaking with legendary singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes by phone in advance of a then-upcoming February 2001 appearance at legendary Long Island, New York venue Westbury Music Fair. This one took place at a point in Hayes' career when he was not only a regular on "South Park" and touring at a high level, but also a popular New York radio personality, author of a recent cookbook, a philanthropist and an entrepreneur. This wasn't too long after Hayes' song "Chocolate Salty Balls" had hit #1 on the UK charts.

Listening back for the first time in over 20 years on New Year's Day 2021, I had no recollection of asking Isaac Hayes the semi-hard-hitting question I did about being sampled by artists whose lifestyles were very different than his. Despite that, he was nice, honest and patient with me throughout the interview; he did me a real solid at the end by recording an outgoing voicemail message for me. Theme song by Steve Schiltz.