Going Home Weekend: RIP Bernic Mac & Isaac Hayes & DJ George Bates

[Donald Cleveland]

The oddest thing is that I saw an interview with Isaac Hayes eulogizing Bernic Mac. Then within 24 hours, he too is gone. I logged on to DeepHousePage and found that Dj George Bates had passed. Man, what a tough, tough weekend for the families of the man involved and on a secondary level all of we fans. I cant even get my mind wrapped around it. These were not old men by ANY stretch of the imagination. The oldest, Issac was working out on his treadmill at the time of his death.

The jokes, the roles, the music, the moments. These men all gave of their time and their privacy to entertain us and to make us feel good. Don't ever get cynical and think "they made money, too"- of course they did. They WORKED. You are SUPPOSED to get paid when you WORK.
Think instead of the songs Ike wrote that got ripped off from him, the dates that Bernie did with no pay. The promoter that stiffed George on a DJ date.
And these guys kept coming back for more. They were not stopped. Nobody whined about their childhood, their daddy, the "white man"...not THESE guys. They DID what they DID. And we loved them for it. And even more now, we will miss them for their dedication and talent.

[Donald Cleveland]

Promo from the movie "Soul Men". Hard to believe looking at THAT photo what was to come.

[Soul Commune Admin]

Great Pic. Is that a real picture?