- Album list
- Singer Intro
The Isley Brothers (/ˈaɪzliː/) are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that started as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley. The group has been cited as having enjoyed one of the 'longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music'.
Alongside a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had modest chart successes during their early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, 'Shout', written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. Afterwards the group recorded for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single, 'Twist and Shout' and the Motown single, 'This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)' before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit, 'It's Your Thing' on their own label, T-Neck Records.
Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group began experimenting with different musical styles incorporating elements of rock and funk music as well as pop balladry. The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers) in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a self-contained musical band. For the next full decade, they recorded top-selling albums including The Heat Is On and Between the Sheets.
The six-member lineup of the band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. Eldest member O'Kelly died in 1986 and Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired for life in the Christian ministry in 1989. Ronald re-formed the group two years later in 1991 with Ernie and Marvin; five years later in 1996, Marvin Isley left the group due to complications of diabetes. The remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie accomplished mainstream success with the albums Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003), with the former album spawning the top twenty hit, 'Contagious'. As of 2016, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.
The Isley Brothers have had four Top 10 singles on the United States Billboard chart. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40. Thirteen of those albums have been either certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions including being inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Five years later, they were inducted to Hollywood's Rockwalk and in 2003, were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
Members
Current members
Ronald Isley – lead vocals (1955–present), backing vocals (1954–1955)
Ernie Isley – electric and acoustic guitars, bass, drums, percussion (1973–1984, 1991–present)
Former members
Rudolph Isley – backing vocals (1954–1989, 2004)
O'Kelly Isley, Jr. – backing vocals (1954–1986; his death)
Marvin Isley – bass guitar (1973–1984, 1991–1997; died 2010)
Chris Jasper – keyboards, backing vocals, guitar, bass, percussion, wrote and directed string arrangements, songwriter, arranger, producer (1973–1984)
Vernon Isley – lead vocals (1954–1955; his death)
Discography
1959: Shout!
1962: Twist & Shout
1963: Twisting and Shouting
1966: This Old Heart of Mine
1967: Soul on the Rocks
1969: It's Our Thing
1969: The Brothers: Isley
1970: Get into Something
1971: Givin' It Back
1972: Brother, Brother, Brother
1973: 3 + 3
1974: Live It Up
1975: The Heat Is On
1976: Harvest for the World
1977: Go for Your Guns
1978: Showdown
1979: Winner Takes All
1980: Go All the Way
1981: Grand Slam
1981: Inside You
1982: The Real Deal
1983: Between the Sheets
1985: Masterpiece
1987: Smooth Sailin'
1989: Spend the Night
1992: Tracks of Life
1996: Mission to Please
2001: Eternal
2003: Body Kiss
2006: Baby Makin' Music
2017: Power of Peace
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