"Theme from Shaft," written and recorded by Isaac Hayes, is the
soul and funk-styled theme song to the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film,
Shaft. The song was well received by adult audiences, reaching
number six on Billboard’s Easy Listening chart.

The following year, "Theme from Shaft" won the Academy Award
for Best Original Song with Hayes becoming the first African
American to win that honor, or any Academy Award in a non-
acting category, as well as the first recipient of the award to
both write and perform the winning song.

Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr.
(August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008)