If there is any justice in the world, his wonderful soundtrack to the film Shaft – which shifted effortlessly from era-defining super-tight Funk, to the smoothest of lounge jazz – should always be considered his finest hour; though his composition credits for Stax are equally impressive. These include collaborations with David Porter on soul staples Soul Man and Hold On, I’m Comin’, both made into massive hits by Sam & Dave, amongst many others – and his central role in the success of the Stax roster through the mid-60s cannot be underestimated. I cannot begin to tell you how important Isaac Hayes’ voice was to my love-affair with South Park, the jaw dropping surprise at hearing his unmistakeable tones during Cartman Gets An Anal Probe was enough to hook me instantly to this weird new animated show – and when he first sang, well, that was it (‘I just wanna dingle your ling, and fa-la-la your la’… still makes me laugh, even now). Responsible for many of the show’s funniest moments, best musical interludes and – of course – Chocolate Salty Balls, it was a real shame that he left the show under acrimonious circumstances following the scientology-bashing Trapped In The Closet episode (the one where Tom Cruise refuses to leave Stan’s bedroom wardrobe). It was also a move that seemed totally out of character considering he was a man more than happy to parody himself and his oeuvre mercilessly throughout the show; however, he stuck to his guns and left the show virtually immediately – never to return, save for being lampooned himself through the use of old voice clips in the episode Chef Returns, as Trey Stone and Matt Parker told their side of the spat.