Waiting For The Third

I will admit that when I heard Bernie Mac had passed away on Saturday, I didn't have much of a reaction other than, "Wow, he was young!" because I've never been a fan. I think the only thing I've ever seen him in was "Ocean's Eleven" and I don't recall being impressed by his performance.

The death of Isaac Hayes the next day was more disturbing on several levels.

I've been a fan of his work since I bought "Hot Buttered Soul" when I was 15 and, of course, 2 years later when he hit Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with his mega-hit soundtrack and theme from "Shaft." What I didn't find out until years later was that I had been a fan of his before that because in the mid-1960's he had co-written several of the hit songs performed by Sam and Dave including "Soul Man" and "Hold On, I'm Coming."

As with the late Barry White, I always enjoyed Hayes' deep bass voice. Whether singing or speaking, that voice just oozed power and it will be missed.

The other disturbing aspect of his death is on an even more personal level. Hayes apparently collapsed and died while working out on a treadmill or shortly thereafter.

When I'm on the road I typically work out on the hotel treadmill.

You see where I'm going here?

They say these things come in threes. I'm watching the headlines to see who the third is...but I'm also avoiding the treadmill.

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