The Isley Brothers (music group)
The Isley Brothers is an influential American music group that originated in the early 1950s in Cincinnati, Ohio. Initially consisting of brothers Ronald, O'Kelly, Rudolph, and Vernon Isley, the group transitioned to a trio after Vernon passed away shortly after their formation. They gained significant recognition with their 1959 hit "Shout," and continued to produce successful songs like "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" and "It's Your Thing." Their innovative merging of musical styles—including doo-wop, rock, and R&B—contributed to their lasting appeal, and they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
Throughout their career, the Isley Brothers experienced a series of member changes and personal challenges, yet they maintained a strong presence in the music industry. Their work included several critically acclaimed albums, and they adapted their sound over the decades, incorporating elements of disco and rock. Following various lineup alterations and the passing of several members, Ronald and Ernie Isley continued to perform together. The group remains celebrated for their contributions to music, and their legacy was further underscored by the recent passing of Rudolph Isley in October 2023.
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The Isley Brothers (music group)
The Isley Brothers is an American music group that formed in the early 1950s and originally consisted of members Rudolph, Ronald, O'Kelly, and Vernon Isley. Vernon passed away early in the group's career, but his three brothers continued pursuing their musical dreams. The Isleys produced a number of hits throughout the late twentieth century, including songs such as "Shout," "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You), and "It's Your Thing." Several of their albums were certified gold and platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The group's lineup shifted a number of times, and several misfortunes befell its members over the years. The Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Following the death of Marvin Isley in 2010, remaining members Ernie and Ronald continued performing together under the Isley Brothers' name.
Background
The Isley Brothers first formed in the early 1950s. Originally consisting of brothers Ronald, O'Kelly, Rudolph, and Vernon, the gospel-singing foursome became a threesome after the death of Vernon in 1955. Vernon was the group's lead singer. Following his death, Ronald took over on lead vocals. The Isleys left their hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1957 and moved to New York City. In New York, they recorded doo-wop songs for small labels. These recordings attracted little attention from bigger record labels and music venues. However, the group garnered notice two years later during a performance of the song "Lonely Teardrops" in Washington, DC. Inserting the lyric, "You know you make me want to shout" into the song, the improvisation roused the audience into frenzy. An impressed RCA executive in the audience signed the Isley Brothers, instructing them to write a song centered on the improvised lyric. The result was "Shout," a song that, though not very popular when first released, would bring fame to the group for decades to come. The song was included on the group's debut album, Shout, released in 1959.
The Isley Brothers' time with RCA produced a few hits, but it was not until they left the label that they began to gain traction in the music industry. In 1962, the group released a cover of the song "Twist and Shout" by the Top Notes, which was a commercial success. Included on their sophomore album Twist & Shout, the Isleys' cover inspired other big names in music to follow suit. "Shout' was even covered by acts such as the Beatles. The Isley Brothers came in contact with a number of talented musicians throughout their career. In 1964, the trio hired a young guitarist named Jimmy James to play in their backing band. James, who later became famous under the stage name Jimi Hendrix, recorded his first pieces of music on the Isleys' own T-Neck record label.
Overview
In 1965, the Isleys signed with Tamla, a Motown subsidiary, where they recorded the song "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)." The song ascended the music charts, narrowly missing the top ten despite making it to number three on the British charts. The group decided to take advantage of their popularity in England and relocated there in 1967. The next two years were frustrating for the Isleys, who felt creatively stifled by Motown's strict song-making process. When they returned to the United States in 1969, the group left Tamla and began releasing music on their T-Neck label. That year, their younger brothers Ernie and Marvin Isley joined the group's backing band. Brother-in-law Chris Jasper and friend Everett Collins were also recruited. Ernie made his debut as bassist on the 1969 single "It's Your Thing," which rose to number two on the US charts. The corresponding album, It's Our Thing, was a huge success.
The 1970s saw the group incorporating more rock elements into their music, and their covers of songs such as Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" and Stephen Stills's "Love the One You're With" were hugely popular with listeners. The Isleys produced another big hit with the song "That Lady, Pt. 1," and their 1973 album 3+3 was a commercial and critical success. Critical response to their next album, 1975's The Heat Is On, was also positive. The album produced another hit single, "Fight the Power, Pt. 1." The growing popularity of disco music motivated the group to integrate the genre into their sound toward the end of the decade, leading to several rock/disco combo albums. The move was met with a lukewarm response, and their radio play dwindled by the 1980s. However, the group remained popular, and their songs continued to top the R&B charts.
In 1984, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, and Chris Jasper left the Isley Brothers lineup to form their own band, Isley Jasper Isley. Two years later, O'Kelly Isley died of a heart attack. Rudolph eventually left to become a minister. Marvin, Ronald, and Ernie Isley reunited in 1991 and released the album Tracks of Lifethe following year. That year, the Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1996, the Isleys released Mission to Please, which rose to number two on the R&B album charts and sold more than one million units, earning platinum certification. Marvin, whose health was deteriorating due to diabetes, lost his legs in 1997 because of complications from the disease. Ronald and Ernie recorded another album without Marvin in 2001 titled Eternal, which sold more than two million copies and ascended to number one on the R&B album charts. The early 2000s also saw the release of the albums Body Kiss (2003) and Baby Makin' Music(2006). In 2005, Ronald was convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to prison time. He was released in 2010 shortly before his brother Marvin died from complications resulting from his diabetes. Ronald and Ernie continued performing together, and many of the former members of the group continued to work in the music industry as solo artists or in other bands.
Rudolph Isley died in his sleep at his home in Chicago on October 11, 2023, at the age of 84.
Bibliography
Farber, Jim. “Rudolph Isley, An Original and Enduring Isley Brother, Dies at 84.” The New York Times, 12 Oct. 2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/10/12/arts/music/rudolph-isley-dead.html. Accessed 1 Apr. 2024.
Guila, Bob. Icons of R&B and Soul: An Encyclopedia of the Artists Who Revolutionized Rhythm. Greenwood Press, 2008.
Hevesi, Dennis. "Marvin Isley, Bassist in Isley Brothers, Dies at 56." The New York Times, 7 June 2010, www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/arts/music/08isley.html. Accessed 1 July 2017.
"The Isley Brothers." Billboard, www.billboard.com/artist/416425/isley-brothers/chart. Accessed 1 July 2017.
"The Isley Brothers." Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, www.rockhall.com/inductees/isley-brothers. Accessed 1 July 2017.
"Isley Brothers Biography." AllMusic,www.allmusic.com/artist/the-isley-brothers-mn0000766893/biography. Accessed 1 July 2017.
"The Isley Brothers: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1992." Cleveland.com,www.cleveland.com/rockhall/index.ssf/2012/01/the‗isley‗brothers‗rock‗and‗ro.html. Accessed 1 July 2017.
"O'Kelly Isley." The New York Times, 3 Apr. 1986, www.nytimes.com/1986/04/03/obituaries/o-kelly-isley.html. Accessed 1 July 2017.
Wilner, Paul. "Isley Brothers: A Family Affair." The New York Times, 13 Mar. 1977, www.nytimes.com/1977/03/13/archives/westchester-weekly-isley-brothers-a-family-affair.html?‗r=0. Accessed 1 July 2017.