from Mark:

Isaac Hayes, the musician who so inhabited the role of The Duke, “A Number One, The Big Man,” in John Carpenter’s dystopian thriller, “Escape from New York,” died today while exercising at his home. (That’s Hayes on the left, with costars Harry Dean Stanton and Adrienne Barbeau.)

Hayes’ musical influence is apparent in Carpenter’s soundtrack for the film, which features soulful, heavy bass lines accompanied by the sounds of steel drums.

Exercise was one of the famed Scientologist’s favorite pastimes. His treadmill was still whirring when a family member found him on the floor beside it.

Soul icon Isaac Hayes dies in Memphis at 65 | U.S. | Reuters
Oscar-winning soul singer Isaac Hayes who, along with Al Green, James Brown and Stevie Wonder, was one of the dominant black artists in the early 1970s, died in Memphis on Sunday. He was 65.

His friend and former manager, Onzie Horne, told Reuters he spoke to Hayes’ wife, Adjowa, who confirmed that Hayes had died.