Shaft

The voice behind the theme from 'Shaft' was found dead by relatives. His career started as a songwriter and producer for Stax Records in Memphis, and his best compositions while in the recording company includes the 'Soul Man'.But his breakout song as a performer was the songs from the Hot Buttered Soul album and his participation in 'Shaft' movie with his 'Theme from Shaft'. The theme won an Oscar and his performance at the Academy Awards made him a household name.

I heard that theme when I watched the version of Shaft that starred Samuel L. Jackson.