1971 - 50 Years Ago

1971 Isaac Hayes did the Soundtrack to Shaft. Hayes initially became involved with Shaft in hopes of having director Gordon Parks cast him in the title role, but was not aware that Richard Roundtree had already been cast. The title track (which went to #1) won the Grammy awards for Best Engineered Recording Non-Classical and Best Instrumental Arrangement.

At the Academy Awards that year, Hayes became the first African-American to win an Oscar for a non-acting category when he won the award for Best Original Song.

The song is considered by some to be one of the first disco songs.

The back-up singer that says "Shut Your Mouth" is Telma Hopkins (a Dawn with Tony Orlando and actress from many 80s/90s Tv Shows.)