By: Sherrel Wheeler Stewart
Booker T. of the legendary Stax band Booker T. and the MG’s flew to Memphis Sunday from Nantucket, Massachusetts, making several connections to get there in time for a public memorial the next day for his longtime friend.
Monday afternoon, he sat in the huge sanctuary of Hope Presbyterian Church in suburban Memphis, reflecting quietly on the years, the successes and the joy he had in knowing and performing with soul star Isaac Hayes, the R&B icon who captured hearts and acclaim worldwide with both his music and acting.
Hayes, 65, died last Sunday of a stroke. A private memorial was held for him on Sunday. And on Monday, an estimated crowd of 3,000 filled the church, listening to musical tributes and reflections on the one called “Black Moses.”
“I was sitting there feeling very close to Isaac. I thought about the days when we were back in the Stax studio together,” Booker T. told BlackAmericaWeb.com, shortly after the three-hour service ended. “I thought about some of our last conversations.”
The faces flowing into the church told the story of the lives touched by Hayes during a career that spanned almost five decades -- lawyers, preachers, entertainers, politicians, and fans.
“People started arriving as early as 9 a.m., and from that point, the crowd began to flow,” said Cheryl Duncan who handled public relations for the service.
Soul Icon Isaac Hayes Memorialized by Fellow Musicians....
No comments:
Post a Comment