Stay tuned for Isaac Hayes Tribute - Part 2Featuring my never before released 2001 New York Audio Interview with Black Moses himself.
The first time I met Isaac Hayes was on a fiercely rainy and stormy night in Copenhagen on June 28th, 1997. Incidentally, the same day Mike Tyson bit off Evander Holyfield's ear at the MGM Grand Garden Arenea in Las Vegas...
The kind of night you wanna stay in cuddling up in front of the fireplace, drinking hot chocolate. In fact, weather was so bad, we skipped plans of going out and decided to dine in his deluxe, four star hotel.
At the time Isaac was romantically involved with my sister-in-law Audrey. She had set up the encounter as Isaac was in town appearing on the famous Roskilde Festival.
As we sat down for dinner, it quickly became apparent that Isaac had already made a few friends... He was on a first name basis with several of the waiters, chefs and kitchen staff.
As we approached desert he blushingly revealed that he had a special spot reserved just for him in the hotel kitchen freezer. He had discovered and fallen in love with a delicious lemon sorbet from a nearby competing restaurant. Hotel staff now, not only went out of their way to keep this delicatessen in stock for him, but also competed to ensure that it had his name on it with a sticker saying: 'Hands off'!
I vividly recall being BIG time pregnant with my first born and certainly did not feel at my most glamorous. Isaac, however, was charming, gracious and very funny, insisting he did not notice until we got up to leave several hours later and he grabbed my arm and gave me a hug, because I conned him out of paying the bill, when he went to the gents room.
During the course of our meal I was gathering courage to pop the big question: Would Soul Legend Isaac Hayes, popularly known as Black Moses and the essence of Stax Records, do a duet with little me, Charlotte Roel, a Danish recording artist of no serious international fame or notoriety, locally known as 'Lady Soul of Denmark'?
The question burning on my lips for months came out sounding: 'So Audrey tells me you are ready, willing and able to record a duet with me?
When I proudly added that a potential duet between the two of us made a local major record label guarantee a Pan Scandinavian release, he seemed unimpressed.
It was obvious that the record company's promises were of little importance to him. Much more was he interested in - What I thought this would do for me?
Needless to say, the duet never happened, but I will never forget his genuine concern, willingness to assist and interest in my affairs, lending his calming, experienced and attentive ear to the woes of a struggling, up-and-coming, young artist.
Isaac Hayes' ability to:
BE REAL - BE IN THE MOMENT - BE HUMBLE
will stay with me forever. The impact of this unique quality, so fleetingly rare and profound.
Thank you and God bless you Isaac Hayes!
charlotte@urbanprecinct.com
ITunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=187542754&s=143444
Isaiah 46, 13: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger, and I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory.
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