Isaac Hayes' Music Changed the World

Today, March 23rd is the 82nd day of the year and today I was thinking about my friend, the late Isaac Hayes and the last time this musical icon visited us in Jackson.
It was at a gala I chaired in November 2006 and Isaac came to present an award to his great friend, Pat Tigrett, founder of the Blues Ball in Memphis. Isaac was literally born into poverty in western Tennessee, orphaned in infancy, and raised by his grandparents. He moved to Memphis and secretly dropped out of high school. But after a few weeks, his teachers arrived on his doorstep with hand-me-down clothes for the student who had much to offer and Isaac resolved to get his diploma, which he did at the age or 21. This experience sparked his dedication to literacy and education.
Singing in church since he was five, he joined a school band and then began playing club dates because he needed the money. Those roads led to stadrom and Stax Records. He and David Porter wrote 200 songs which became standards such as “Hold On I’m Coming” and “Soul Man” among others. In fact, in the early '70s not a week went by without two Isaac Hayes albums on the charts, and sometimes three. But it was the release of “Shaft” that immortalized this gentle legend.

Isaac gave back to his community and beyond. He was made a King in Ghana and established a foundation devoted to spreading the message that literacy and education are the keys to freedom and prosperity in this world.

Isaac suffered a stroke, but with therapy and the love and support of his wife, Adjowa, and soul brother, David, he went on to perform again. The last time I saw Isaac, I invited him and David to dinner in Memphis at Encore to meet Dr. Tom DeGraba and his family who were here on vacation. Tom is a neurologist at the NIH in Bethesda and on call for the President, Supreme Court Justices and members of Congress. He, David and Isaac developed a fast friendship which included a personal tour of the Stax Museum and a barbecue lunch. It was such a memorable evening, but one year later to the day, Isaac Hayes died, but not before he changed music around the world. More importantly, through his music he changed the lives of thousands around the world through the Isaac Hayes Foundation. Isaac was a great soul man.

"What makes this dish so good is starting with really fresh chopped steak. That, and making your gravy the old-fashioned way instead of using gravy from a jar. (Not to say that I've never done it in a pinch, but this home-style gravy is surprisingly easy—and well worth the effort.) When seduction is on the menu, my character of Chef from South Park would serve this dish to win the lady over!" Isaac Hayes, cookbook author
Salisbury Steak a la Isaac

1/2 cup all-purpose flour;1/4 teaspoon dried sage;Sea salt to taste;Ground black pepper to taste;4 (5-ounce) "steaks" of lean ground round;About 1/3 cup safflower or canola oil;1 cup chopped yellow onions;1/2 cup spring water;1/3 cup milk

Place the flour, sage, salt, and pepper in a paper bag and shake to mix. Working with one steak at a time, shake in bag until completely coated with the flour mixture. Shake off the excess flour and reserve for the gravy.
Pour oil into a large skillet to a depth of 1/8 inch and heat over medium-high heat. Add steaks and cook until browned, 3 to 5 minutes on each side. Drain steaks on paper towels and set aside.
Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the oil from the skillet. Add onions and cook over medium heat until very brown. Spread the flour-coating mixture over the bottom of the pan and stir until browned. Slowly add the spring water, stirring until it begins to boil. Add the milk, stirring constantly, until the mixture steams.
Simmer the steaks in the gravy for about 5 minutes. Cover, turn off the heat, and let steaks stand for a few minutes to allow the meat to absorb the flavors of the gravy.