The Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers ðə 'aɪzliː ˌbrʌðərz are a hugely popular African-American music group from Cincinnati, Ohio, who hold the record for being the longest-running charted group in music history. Starting in 1954 and lasting into the new millennium, the group has spanned decades, two generations of members and music genres as diverse as gospel, doo-wop, R&B, soul, funk, rock, adult contemporary and even hip-hop. Founded in 1954, the original members were brothers O'Kelly, Jr., Rudolph, Ronald and Vernon Isley, initially singing gospel until Vernon's death from a bicycle accident in 1955. After a brief split, the three older brothers reformed as a trio. In 1973, they added younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and brother-in-law Chris Jasper, reinventing the vocal group as a band with the moniker 3 + 3. The younger half broke off from the group in 1984, making the group a vocal trio again, until 1986 when oldest brother O'Kelly, Jr., suddenly died of a heart attack. After one album as a duo, Rudolph retired to become a minister and Ronald carried on with a solo career until he, Ernie and Marvin reformed the Isley Brothers in 1991. After Marvin left due to his battle with diabetes in 1997, Ronald and Ernie carried on right into the new millennium. In the process, Ronald's new alter ego, the gangster and R. Kelly video villain Mr. Biggs, helped bring newfound success to the group well into the new millennium.

History

Early years

The Isley Brothers all began singing in church under the tutelage of their parents, who were also musicians. In 1954, the four older sons of Sally and O'Kelly Isley, Sr.'s nine children formed the group as a gospel quartet. They toured all over their area of Ohio and other areas in the Midwestern and Eastern side of the United States until Vernon was killed in bicycle accident in 1955, at the age of 13. Shaken over the tragedy, the brothers decided to disband the group until their parents' coaxing got them back into music in 1956, when they were looking to branch out of gospel. In 1957, with their parents' blessing, the trio left Ohio for New York and began recording doo-wop for small labels with little success.

Early success

By 1959, the Isley Brothers were two years deep into their professional career and were without a hit. Often finding themselves opening for obscure acts in venues across the country, they finally got a boost when Jackie Wilson allowed the brothers to open for his show. During an inspired rendition of Wilson's classic, "Lonely Teardrops", Ronald went into a gospel routine and with his older brothers tagging along yelled out "you know you make me wanna shout!" A scout for RCA Records was at the audience and was so impressed that he helped them get signed to the label where they went into the studio to record what they had created on stage that night. Penned solely by the brothers, the song, "Shout!", became a breakthrough for the trio. Its mixture of gospel call and response vocals, bluesy lyrics and rock angst helped the boys score their first charted hit. Peaking at #47 on the Billboard Hot 100, it proved to be an even bigger hit when it was covered by several rock acts both from America and Great Britain, and provided the brothers their first million-selling hit. Subsequent releases, however, failed to generate similar success and by 1962, the group had left RCA for Specter/Wand Records, where they would score another hit single with their rendition of the Topnotes' "Twist & Shout". It peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and would eventually become an even bigger hit thanks to The Beatles, which took the record straight to #2 upon its release in late-1963.

T-Neck and the early emergence of Jimi Hendrix

By 1964, however, the Isleys had yet to follow up with another hit, having modest success with the similar "Twistin' With Linda" that year. After their original version of "Who's That Lady" failed to generate buzz, the group decided to form their own label, which they called T-Neck. Within a year, the Isleys cut their first independent singles in the label, two of which ("Testify" and "Move On Over & Let Me Dance") first featured a Seattle guitarist going by the name of Jimmy James. James was also the leading guitarist in the brothers' touring band. After leaving, he changed his name back to Jimi Hendrix and became a sensation soon afterwards.

Enter Motown

Still unsatisfied and unimpressed by the slow progress, the brothers folded the label and signed on with Motown Records in 1965. A year later, they would score their biggest hit to date when the Holland-Dozier-Holland-produced "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)" went to #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #6 R&B in 1966. But as with "Shout" and "Twist & Shout" before it, the group was unable to follow up with a successor. By 1968, they were complaining of feeling like a second-tier act in the label that was home to top groups The Temptations & The Supremes. Inspired by their success in the UK, where "This Old Heart of Mine" reached #3 on the pop singles chart, and fed up with Motown founder Berry Gordy's direction with them, they left the label, reformed T-Neck and signed with New York-based Buddah Records.

The Buddha Years

Through Buddha and their newfound faith in their careers, the Isley Brothers changed their image, sound and lineup. Though they weren't made members yet, younger brothers guitarist/drummer Ernie and bassist Marvin eventually joined the lineup. In February of 1969, the Isleys hit pay dirt with the funk anthem "It's Your Thing". It was their biggest hit to date, reaching #1 on the Black Singles chart and #2 on the Pop Singles chart and winning them their first and only Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group. Through this early period with Buddah, the brothers' input went from a gritty funk-soul sound like that of James Brown, The JB's, and Sly & the Family Stone, to a funk/rock sound that integrated the worlds of James Brown's instrumental funk and Jimi Hendrix's syncopating hard rock, thanks to the searing guitar licks by brother Ernie (who was a multi-instrumentalist). With the inclusion of brother-in-law and keyboardist Chris Jasper in 1970, the group would hit strides with songs like 1970's "Get Into Something", their inspired 1971 cover of Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay", and 1972's "Work to Do" and "Pop That Thang".

The 3 + 3 Years

After their contract with Buddha expired in 1973, the Isleys were offered a long-term contract with Epic Records. Taking their T-Neck imprint with them, the brothers quickly went into the studio but this time as a sextet. That year, original members O'Kelly, Jr., Rudolph and Ronald announced that Ernie, Marvin and Jasper were officially members of the Isley Brothers turning the original vocal trio into a band. The result of this transformation resulted in their groundbreaking album that year, 3 + 3, which featured their Top 10 pop smash "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2" and their seminal cover of Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze". It was the brothers' first of a string of gold and platinum records the band would score throughout the 1970s and into the 1980s. Along the way, they not only did funk gems and rock ballads but also soulful slow jams and later disco club hits.

In 1975, their album, The Heat Is On, became the brothers' first #1 album on the Billboard pop album charts. The album rode the success of their political anthem "Fight the Power, Pt. 1 & 2", which was controversial for using the word "bullshit." Radio stations still play the song but censored the word. It would pave the way for a similar anthem by rap group Public Enemy in 1989. A second single, "For the Love of You, Pt. 1 & 2", was also a memorable hit based on its smooth jazz-inspired production and soulful harmonies. In 1977, their album, Go For Your Guns, featured the hits, "The Pride, Pt. 1 & 2" and their quiet storm classic, "Voyage to Atlantis". Another song from the album, "Footsteps in the Dark", would become a radio hit though it never charted. At the end of the decade, they scored another #1 R&B hit with the disco gem, "I Wanna Be With You, Pt. 1 & 2". Their 1980 quiet storm gem, "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)", would become their last big hit on both the pop and R&B charts, reaching #39 on the former, and would be their last Top 40 hit on the pop charts for nearly two decades. At that point, the brothers' funk-rock sound had peaked, and although they still scored gold albums into 1984, their audiences had dwindled. To further complicate matters, members of the group were having arguments over the group's direction.

In 1983, they scored a triumph with their Between the Sheets album, which included the #3 R&B title track. But it wasn't enough to stop the infighting, and in 1984, it was announced that the 3 + 3 lineup was splitting. Ernie, Marvin and Chris left to form their own group, Isley-Jasper-Isley.

Meanwhile, back at Square One...

The original trio joined Warner Brothers Records and carried on releasing 1985's Masterpiece. But oldest brother O'Kelly, Jr., suddenly died of a cancer-related heart attack on March 31, 1986 at the age of only 48. Younger brothers Rudolph and Ronald dedicated the Angela Winbush-produced Smooth Sailin to O'Kelly, Jr., where they score their last Top 10 R&B hit, "Smooth Sailin' Tonight" before Rudolph announced that he was leaving the music industry to become a minister. Around the same time, the younger half had also split up to form their own careers, Jasper's being the most successful. By 1989, all surviving members of the Isleys were solo artists. Ronald released the album, Spend the Night as an Isley Brothers album though Rudolph had retired before the album's release. In 1991, after Ronald scored a Top 10 cover on the pop charts with "This Old Heart of Mine" with fellow rock singer Rod Stewart, Ronald reformed the Isley Brothers, now including Ernie and Marvin, retitling the group as The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley. Upon their reunion, the brothers were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Introducing Mr. Biggs

By 1995, the Isleys hadn't scored a big hit in more than a decade when contemporary R&B superstar R. Kelly approached two of the brothers, Ronald and Ernie, to appear on his self-titled third album. What followed was the group's appearance on the pop charts for the first time since 1980 with a 1996 duet with Kelly titled "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)", which was a Top 10 pop and #1 R&B single. Much of the success was thanks to Ronald Isley's new image, created by Kelly in the video to the song. Re-introduced to a younger audience as the smooth gangster, Mr. Biggs, it helped bring a newer audience to the Isley Brothers, now approaching 40 years in the music business.

Around the same time, a bevy of hip-hop performers had paid tribute to the Isleys by sampling their songs to great success. Rapper Ice Cube scored a Top 10 hit with "It Was a Good Day", which sampled the Isleys' "Footsteps in the Dark" in 1992, two years later, rapper The Notorious B.I.G. scored a huge hit with "Big Poppa", which sampled "Between the Sheets" followed up by Da Brat's "Funkdafied", which also sampled the song. At the same time, R&B singer Aaliyah scored a huge hit with her cover of the Isleys' 1976 radio hit "At Your Best (You Are Love)". By 1996, the Isley Brothers joined the ranks of James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic as one of the most sampled groups in hip-hop. In 1996, their album, Mission to Please, was released and soon became their first gold album since 1983's Between the Sheets album. The first single, "Float On Your Love", featured a remix featuring rapper Lil' Kim. Ronald scored notoriety and success as Mr. Biggs throughout the late-1990s appearing on hip-hop songs. Marvin suddenly left the band in 1997 due to a battle with diabetes.

After a deal with Island Black Music, where Ronald took control of bringing in singer Kelly Price, went dry in 2000 and after an initial battle with the IRS for tax evasion that led to Isley's bankruptcy, the Isleys signed with Dreamworks Records and released the Eternal album in 2001. On the album, their 2001 smash, the R. Kelly-produced "Contagious", was the brothers' biggest pop hit in 20 years eventually peaking at #19 on the pop singles chart and #3 on the R&B singles chart eventually going platinum and also helped their Eternal album reach platinum status. With this success, they became the only group to score a Billboard hit in six consecutive decades since "Shout" became a hit in 1959. Two years later, in 2003, the brothers returned with Body Kiss, which was their first album to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. Yielding the hits, "What Would You Do?" and "Busted", the album also hit platinum status. The same year, the brothers were honored again when they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. In 2004, the Isleys scored a Top 40 R&B hit with Patti LaBelle with the song, "I Gotta Go Solo". That same year, a remix album which celebrated the group's "3 + 3" days, was released and the brothers, now just consisting of Ronald and Ernie, left DreamWorks to become one of the first signees to the Def Soul Classics label.

Around the time, however, Ronald Isley suffered several blows. One of these included suffering a minor stroke while in London for a tour. Another resulted in trouble again with the IRS, when Isley was charged for tax evasion. Isley had allegedly concealed income by demanding cash during group performances, payed his musicians with cash to make it difficult for those to report how much he retained for himself, and cashed royalty checks issued to his late brother O'Kelly, Jr. He had been using the money to support his lifestyle which included buying fur coats, homes in St. Louis and Los Angeles, a yacht and cars. A trial took place a few months later, and in mid-October 2005, Isley was convicted of the charges. A hearing on his sentencing was expected to take place later in January 2006 but has been postponed until August 21.

Meanwhile, Rudolph, who reunited with the group for one night when the brothers were given an honor by BET, is still a minister at his church in California. Marvin has had his legs amputated due to diabetes and now uses an electric wheelchair. Chris Jasper still continues to do solo work and from the time he left the Isley Brothers in 1984 has not been in contact with much of the Isleys, especially Ronald. Along with their inductions to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Vocal Group Hall of Fame, the group's classic song, "Shout", has been played in several commercials.

The Isleys released their first album for Def Jam's Def Soul Classics imprint on May 9, 2006 titled Baby Makin' Music, which features collaborations with producers like Tim & Bob and Jermaine Dupri. The first single, the Gordon Chambers-produced "Just Came Here to Chill", charted as high as #25 on the R&B singles chart.

Isley Brothers personnel

O'Kelly Isley, Jr. (1954-1986): background vocals, until his death
Rudolph Isley (1954-1989): background vocals
Ronald Isley (1954-present): lead and background vocals
Vernon Isley (1954-1955): lead vocals
Ernie Isley (1973-1984; 1991-present): electric and acoustic guitars, drums, bass, maracas, congas, timbales, percussion and background vocals
Marvin Isley (1973-1984; 1991-1997): bass guitar, woodblock, cowbell, percussion and background vocals
Chris Jasper (1973-1984): grand and electric pianos, clavinet, synthesizers, tambourine, congas, percussion and background vocals

Discography

For a detailed listing of albums and singles, see: Isley Brothers discography.

US and UK Top 40 Singles

The following singles reached the Top 40 of either the United States pop singles chart or the United Kingdom pop singles chart. Also included are the singles that hit #1 on the US R&B charts.

Year	Song title	US Top 40 chart	UK Top 40 chart	R&B No. 1
1962:	"Twist & Shout"	17
1966:	"This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)"	12	3
1966:	"I Guess I'll Always Love You"		11
1967:	"Behind a Painted Smile"		5
1969:	"Put Yourself In My Place"		13
1969:	"It's Your Thing"	2	30	1
1969:	"I Turned You On"	23
1971:	"Love The One You're With"	18
1972:	"Pop That Thang"	24
1973:	"That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2"	6	14
1973:	"The Highways of My Life"		25
1974:	"Summer Breeze"		16
1975:	"Fight the Power, Pt. 1 & 2"	4		1
1975:	"For the Love of You, Pt. 1 & 2"	23
1976:	"Harvest For the World"		10
1977:	"The Pride, Pt. 1 & 2"			1
1977:	"Livin' in the Life"	40
1978:	"Take Me to the Next Phase, Pt. 1 & 2"			1
1979:	"I Wanna Be With You"			1
1980:	"Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)"	39		1
1996:	"Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" (R. Kelly featuring the Isley Brothers)	4	23	1
2001:	"Contagious"	19

Top Forty Albums

The following albums reached the Top 40 on either the United States pop albums chart or the United Kingdom pop albums chart.

1969: It's Our Thing (US #22)
1972: Brother, Brother, Brother (US #29)
1973: 3 + 3 (US #8)
1974: Live It Up (US #14)
1975: The Heat Is On (US #1)
1976: Harvest For The World (US #9)
1977: Go For Your Guns (US #6)
1978: Showdown (US #4)
1979: Winner Takes All (US #14)
1980: Go All The Way (US #8)
1981: Grand Slam (US #28)
1983: Between the Sheets (US #19)
1996: Mission to Please (US #31)
2001: Eternal (US #3)
2003: Body Kiss (US #1)
2006: Baby Makin' Music (US #5)

External links

Isley Brothers | The Isley Brothers | アイズレー・ブラザーズ | The Isley Brothers | The Isley Brothers

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