Kirk Whalum Blog
Dynamic Hayes & Porter... Now Just Porter
If you've never been to Memphis, specifically to the NW baggage claim, then you won't recognize this image. It's the legendary, Grammy Award/Academy Award-winning artist (and I'm proud to say personal friend) Isaac Hayes. This is the first thing one sees, comfortably situated next to images of Elvis & BB King, near the bag carousel.
I took this picture today when I arrived at baggage claim from our performance at the Long Beach Jazz Festival -- having just learned of Isaac's death earlier today.
Just as I feebly represented our beloved Soulsville there in Long Beach, Isaac represented Memphis in just about every corner of the globe -- and represented it WELL. I recently sat in with he and Natalie Cole live at the St. Lucia Jazz Fest -- a career highlight for me. He was both a legend and a truly humble, kind, fun-loving man.
We will miss him here in Soulsville. It never will again be quite as soulful as "Ike", "Bubba Lee," "Sac" made it. Put it like this, there'll be plenty of soul left, but it definitely won't be HOT or BUTTERED!
And now we rejoice all the more to still have the other half of Hayes & Porter (songs like "I'm A Soul Man, Hold On I'm Comin, When Somethin's Wrong With My Baby..."), my close friend and producer David Porter here with us. David is not only alive and lookin' great, but as you'll see in upcoming movie soundtracks and recordings slated for release this season, ALIVE AND KICKIN'!
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Posted by: GonaTonounore | January 17, 2009 at 01:41 AM
Hey Kirk, thanks for your part in the service at Hope. So glad we had the building to offer. It was great. See you at the Shell.
Posted by: JT Page | August 31, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Coincidence is God's way of being anonymous. Your eyes caught the significance which others may not have. Your photo & sharing was priceless. The dead live on in our ways we verbalize our memories. Thanks for keeping jazz vibrant! Check out Dr. Reverend ESQ Roland Holmes (founder of the Playboy Jazz Festival) out on Sunday and Monday mornings at KUCI 88.9 FM at UC Irvine at www.kuci.org.
Posted by: DJ Sweet Lorraine from KUCI 88.9FM (www.kuci.org) | August 28, 2008 at 03:48 PM
Kirk...What a great tribute to Issac! Playing one of my favorites on the web site. "I Loved You In Memphis" is so cool! You are a class guy.
Posted by: Mike | August 21, 2008 at 06:45 PM
“I Loved You in Memphis” – Kirk, What a Masterpiece!
You can hear Jazz, a beautiful, heartfelt solo by you, R&B – fantastic singing by Wendy Moten, and Rap – by the late great Isaac Hayes. It affects my heart every time I listen to it.
Posted by: Tammy | August 21, 2008 at 01:41 PM
im from memphis folk
Nice spot u have here, hope u don’t mind the drive by, do chk me out one day
rawdawgbuffalo and if u like what u read, maybe u will come back, even Blog Roll Me
the name game
my folk did a review and interview on me so chk it
Posted by: rawdawgbuffalo | August 20, 2008 at 11:38 PM
We lost a great one in Issac. My generation will remember him for his later work. The song you and him did on your Into My Soul CD was great. He was a forefather of hip hop music.
Posted by: Shawn Oglesby | August 12, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Kirk, this a beautiful tribute, thanks.
Posted by: Tammy | August 12, 2008 at 07:42 AM