The news of Bernie's sudden passing with complications of pneumonia and sarcoidosis on Saturday was still being absorbed by the entertainment community when the gut wrenching news of Isaac Hayes being found dead in his home provided the finishing blow to fans of both iconic men.
Bernie Mac born Bernard Jeffery McCullough in 1957, died in a hospital in his hometown of Chicago. The unbelievable news of the one of the "Kings of Comedy" who was arguably just reaching the prime of his celebrity, gives little solace to those fans of his age group, who ponder what could have been done to keep him here with us.
Root.com Internet columnist Gary Dauphin said, "The need to find reasons for what are often unexplainable turns in a life story can be so strong that we will lay measures of blame at the feet of the dearly departed themselves." So, would having better health habits in his youth given us more time to relish in his passionate pursuit of funny? Hard to say as his actual killer has yet to be determined but was by all accounts an effect of a disease that seeks out it's victim without many precursors to ward off it's effects. The disease sarcoidosis occurs mostly in people ages 20 -40, African-American, especially women, and people of Asian, German, Irish, Puerto Rican and Scandinavian origin. (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
America had finally given Bernie his wish to be on TV. He had recently enjoyed an extended run as a lovable father figure on "The Bernie Mac Show" and with recurring roles in "Oceans 11", "12" and "13" the Mac-man had only begun to reach the tip of the iceberg in his career which extended beyond his stellar stand-up resume. Sadly his wife Rhonda McCullough had implored him "Don't leave me," as she sat by his bedside but he could only shrug his shoulders, reports Hollywood.com.
"She said that when she knew he was tired... he signalled to her that his body was tired."
With tearful eyes many fans began Sunday in earnest still wrapping our collective minds around how it could be that Bernie Mac was now gone, we were rocked by the news that "Black Moses" had also punched his ticket to the pearly gates. Isaac Hayes A*K*A Black Moses was found dead in his home near a treadmill, early Sunday morning. Perhaps Bernie wanted a little soulful funk to soothe and smooth his journey the great comedy club in the sky.
In the mid 80s, I had only begun to learn how to truly enjoy music but after hearing Isaac's rendition of Burt Bacharach's hit "Walk On By", as a youth sitting on my grandmother's porch in the West Dallas projects, I got a glimpse of what losing real love felt like. My Granny (Thelma Lockhart 1928 - 2008), who recently passed on herself would always have her AM transistor radio tuned to Soul 730 in Dallas and I cut my teeth on the truth, rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel and soul. The melodic and majestic swells of his voice as the song begins takes you to the dark and lonely place where the pain is just too much to bear. But, still you push back and pretend that you just don't want anyone to care because all that's left is your foolish pride.
His career which spanned several decades will be remembered most for the memorable creation that was the music from the movie Shaft. The soulful swagger of the entire 1970s "black is beautiful" movement is depicted in every way as sensual thumping of the bass in title theme song comes to mind. As the horns begin to softly blend over top of the majestic bass tones the skin begins to tingle then the violins and flutes send your ears soaring higher and higher into the stratosphere. The "He's a bad mutha...shut yo mouth" is the icing on a the soulful cake that socks it to you.
Although, both men have gone on to glory, their undeniable marks on the face of entertainment and music will never be duplicated but their memories will live on forever in the hearts and minds of us all. Rest in peace dear friends, you will be missed.
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- Really Different Staff