The Isley Brothers

O’Kelly, Rudy and Ron Isley got their first experience in music being taught to perform in churches by their parents along with their other siblings.They formally got together as a group in 1957, not long after they lost their brother, Vernon when he died in a road accident.

After a move to New York they didn’t have to wait long for their big break singing to RCA Records in 1959. Their second release was Shout becoming their first song to make the charts, and gaining fame when it was covered by Lulu.

Unfortunately they were unable to replicate the success and were released from their contract. A move to Wand Records in 1962 saw the group score their first top 40 hit with Twist and Shout, although once again it was eclipsed when The Beatles released their own version the following year.

The brothers then went on to form their own label in 1964, T-Neck Records although it did not take off and they signed to Motown. Once again however, they had difficulty in following up one hit with another, with their biggest track (up to that point) This Old Heart of Mine (is Weak for You) not being repeated.

The late sixties saw the group realise their popularity in the UK (where they had three singles in the top 40) and they came over to tour. This tour reinvigorated the group and with Ernie Isley added on guitar they found success with the soul track, It’s Your Thing.The single was released on Buddha Records with whom they stayed for five years and seven albums. 

The group was further strengthened by members (and songwriters) Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper and they soon recorded arguably their greatest and most successful album 3 + 3. The group went back to its original line up in 1984 after Marvin, Ernie and Jasper left to form Isley-Jasper-Isley, once again without their own songwriters the remaining trio of O’Kelly, Ron and Rudy signed to Warner Bros. A year later however, O’Kelly died of a heart attack, the group continued until 1989 but then Rudy Isley left the group to become a minister leaving Ron to pursue a solo career which at one point saw him collaborate with Rod Stewart.

In 1992 Ernie and Marvin returned to the group and four years later recorded a successful album in the form of Mission to Please.  Marvin retired in 1997, but the remaining pair continued a streak of success with Eternal and Body Kiss finding success despite the member’s health and financial problems.