Issac Hayes graduted High School in Memphis at the age 21 in 1962. For some years he had played saxophone and sung gospel in school bands. He also played piano and that led to his first session at legendary Stax Records in 1963. He was to become one of the central architects of the Funk of the Memphis Sound.

Together with his co-writing partner David Porter he began to write songs for the impressive rooster of Stax performers like Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Rufus & Carla Thomas, winning a Grammy award for Sam & Dave's 'Soul Man'. The performers were backed by the Stax house band, the Bar-Kays, who would also lay down the groove on his first solo album 'Hot Buttered Soul' in 1969. The record was sexual, sensual and seductive and defined Funk from the heart of Soul Music. It embodied the pride and power of the black community rising from suppresion and segregation. The length and percussive orchestration of the 4 Tracks on 'Hot Buttered Soul' as well as Hayes' vocals clearly referenced the African heritage of Black music. Hayes was a gifted performer and enjoyed a string of five consecutive no.1 R&B albums in the following years. The Bar-Kays and Issac Hayes gave birth to Black Rock at Stax.