Cover Story
‘Hot Buttered Soul’ and Me DCCCD professor remembers Isaac Hayes By Jacquinette D. Murphy was playing with a band and nobody was six-year quest for stardom. A second sur- that his head was bumpy although he was orth Dallas Gazette talking to him, so I began to strike up a prise came when Hayes asked her to join bald. “He was keeping his head shaved, conversation with him.” She had no idea him for a Chicago performance at the but it had bumps all on it,” began Elder- “Hot Buttered Soul”, “Black Moses”, that this conversation would blossom into McCormick Place. Jones. “He was just going to a local “Shaft” and “Chef” are all reminiscent of a unique friendship that would continue “I saw how the audience went wild shop. I said that you are too big to be the decades of success of the ‘cool of for more than four decades. over him and I was awed by that. He had going to a regular barber shop, you need soul’ - the late legendary music icon - “It was 1963 when I became friends to do several encores, but when he final- to hire your own barber.” Hayes instant- Isaac Hayes. He is credited with shaping with him. He did not have a lot, but he ly came down, I said, 'Oh my God, ly agreed “saying Dee your right, you the Memphis music sound in the 1960. was intellectual. He told me that if he Bubba, you are all of that!” she recalled, can come to my studio and do my hair”. His unforgettable image, the perfectly ever became famous or rich, that he “I had never seen him in a format like With Elder-Jones' newfound perspec- shaved bald head worn during a time would take care of me because I had been this. I had only seen him as a poor per- tive of her friend, she set out make his when Afros were the fashion, his elegant kind to him.” According to Elder-Jones, son.” image 'bigger than life'. street fashions and his statement-making this characteristic of kindness was some- Hayes, born to a sharecropping fami- “His office was red, black and white, gold chains were partly due to the talent thing common to Hayes. ly, was orphaned during his infancy and so I would buy the towel and chair and influence of a long-time friend, Over the next 6 years, they kept in con- raised by his grandparents. He had for- cloths that were the same color and Dallas Community College Instructor, tact. She was a licensed master barber gone college to pursue his passion and have his initials engraved in them. I Ms. Delores Elder-Jones. and he was steadily making strides had begun to make a deep imprint in the would make him feel like somebody. I would come in while he was conduct- Elder-Jones, a Memphis native, met toward his music career goals. Hayes’ music industry. Hayes taught himself to ing his big business meetings and give Hayes one evening in the early 1960s at a promise to Elder-Jones came to life when play the piano and learned to play the him a manicure.” With her eyes beam- nightlife venue before he was a promi- her phone rang in 1969 when Hayes pro- saxophone. His tenacity and persistence ing in remembrance, Elder-Jones nent figure while she was hanging out duced his first gold album, “Hot Buttered moved him from the general session play- summed, “He loved it.” She further with some friends. Soul” at Stax Records. “He called to tell er and the opening act to the main stage. explained that he really did not ever have “Very poor and unknown, ” said Elder- me that he wanted me to come over and Hayes was making his debut as a solo anyone at that time to make a fuss over Jones as she remembered her first impres- celebrate with them.” artist as well as maintaining his co-writ- him and to care for him like this. “I bought sion of the late soul music innovator. “I Upon her arrival, she saw all the ing relationship with Stax. some cream and taught him how to shave met him in West Memphis, Arkansas. He hoopla surrounding this milestone in his Being a licensed barber, she noticed See HAYES, page 16 August 28, 2008 - September 3, 2008 | orth Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www. orthDallasGazette.com | 9 Church Directory
HAYES, returned back to her barber- in various cities for several his music was tremen- composer and arranger of continued from page 9 shop in Memphis. She years, she ultimately began dous. A lot of the music soul music Isaac Hayes his head properly to keep Elder-Jones replaced all the worked at the Memphis teaching in the Dallas that we did was done with recently died of a stroke the bumps away. He was tattered, old and raggedy Housing Authority before County Community a live symphony, not the in his Memphis home on real excited about that.” articles of Hayes essential returning to school to College District in the synthesizer. He was a August 9. In the early 70s, the clothing with brand new obtain an undergraduate Continuing Education musical genius.” When “I have had such a releases of The Isaac Hayes pieces. “When he saw it, he degree in social work and Department. asked what she missed the good life that sometimes I Movement and To Be was like a kid in a candy continued to work as a bar- In retrospect, Elder- most, she paused and had to pinch myself,” said Continued, increased his store.” After this moment, ber on the weekends. She Jones recounts her friend, said, “the camaraderie we Elder-Jones. Regarding popularity and commanded she added image consultant followed with a graduate Bubba. This time she shared. He was mischie- Hayes passing she added, longer road tours and again to her road resume. Elder- degree in City and describes him differently, vous and he was funny. “We just thought that we he asked Elder-Jones to Jones began to help shape Regional Planning. After “He was creative, loving, We kicked it like that.” could kick it forever, but travel with him. She eager- his image into the one that creating housing programs and giving.I miss Isaac, The legendary voice, we can not.” ly accepted and became his many will long remember. personal groomer, mani- curist and masseuse. “I With his stage attire never missed an opening completed, Elder Jones and I never missed a clos- dressed Hayes for the ing.” she shared. “The street, “When I dressed him opening was to see the way for the street, he was one of the people received him the three best dressed men and the closing was to see internationally- along with how well they enjoyed Prince Ranier,” she shared. him.” “When he stepped out, I did Sharing her experiences not want him to look like a on the road, she spoke of Rock n Roll and R&B her first time packing his singer. I wanted him to look clothes after a minor alter- like GQ.” Elder-Jones is cation between Hayes and also credited with creating his valet. “We were on our a body sheen to add to way to New York and when Hayes’ stage image. we arrived I asked our This upscale life of glam- banker (the guy who han- our slowed after Stax dled the money) to give me records folded in bankrupt- $500 and I went to Saks. cy in 1976 and Hayes could His stuff was raggedy and a no longer support the road star doesn’t dress like that.” demands. Elder-Jones then Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church NORTH DALLAS COMMUNITY BIBLE FELLOWSHIP 920 E. 14th Street Plano, TX “A Spiritual Oasis for a Thirsty World” Isaiah 55:1 Pastor Isiah Joshua, Jr. SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES: F
8:00 AM • 9:30 AM • 11:30 AM FAITH OUR OF FLAMES THE ANNING 972-437-3493 1010-1020 South Sherman Street • Richardson, TX 75081 Dr. Leslie W Smith, Senior Pastor www.ndcbf.org ew Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Dallas Sunday Service Morning Worship 7:30 am & 10:30 am 9:00 am Sunday School Monday Service Men’s Ministry 7:00 pm Women’s Ministry 7:00 pm Young Adult Ministry 7:00 pm Wednesday Service Intercessory Prayer 6:15 pm Dr. Robert E. Price, Sr. Bible Study 7:00 pm Senior Pastor Sunday Worship Services 8AM & 11AM A Praying Church Family ANNING THE FLAMES OF OUR FAITH
F Sunday 9:45AM Sunday School Monday 7PM Youth, Brotherhood, Mission “Watchmen on the Walls” & Young Adult Ministries 214-341-6459 (Phone) • 214-342-8403 (Fax) Tuesday 7PM Bible Study & Men’s Choir 9550 Shepard Road Wednesday 7PM Mid-Week Service Thursday 7PM Mass Choir Dallas, TX 75243 For more information call (972) 423-6695 www.nmzb.org (Website) • [email protected] (Email) www.shilohbaptistchurch.org
16 | August 28, 2008 - September 3, 2008 | orth Dallas Gazette | visit us online at www. orthDallasGazette.com