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Vocal Group Hall of Fame
-- inducted 2003
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
-- inducted 1992
  In the early 1950s, The
Isley Brothers began singing in local churches in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The group originally consisted of Ronald, Rudolph, O'Kelly and Vernon
Isley. Vernon was killed in an automobile accident when a car hit him in
1956. For awhile, understandably, the remaining brothers did not perform,
but after the coaxing of their parents, they reformed their group and
eventually left Cincinnati in 1956, heading to New York City to start
recording records.
They signed with a small record company there, but
never really put out anything that sold well. Then, they put out their
first hit single "Shout!" in 1959. They followed that
success with "Twist and Shout" in 1962. However, when the
record company wanted them to do "Surf and Shout" they
figured it was time to move on.
In 1963, they started their own record label,
T-Neck, to have more control over their work. They also added a new
kid named Jimi Hendrix to play lead guitar. However, after struggling
for a couple of years with their own label, they signed with Motown in
1965. Attempting to put the Isleys in their "formula," the
hit factory only produced one hit for the brothers, "This Old
Heart of Mine."
  The Isleys left Motown in 1968 and in 1969,
restarted their own T-Neck label, which is where most of their
excellent work comes from. They also won a Grammy for "It's Your
Thing."
In 1973, younger brothers, Ernie and Marvin, along
with O'Kelly's brother-in-law, Chris Jasper, officially joined the group producing the
album,"3+3." This was the beginning of the famous
"Isley Brothers sound" that is prevalent in the majority of
their recordings in the 70s, 80s and 90s. From 1973 to 1983, the Isley
Brothers had nine consecutive gold or platinum albums.
In 1984, the younger members of the group decided to
strike out on their own, forming Isley, Jasper, Isley. That left the
group consisting of the original threesome. In 1985, the original
threesome signed with Warner Brothers Records. But, on March 31 of the
following year, O' Kelly died of an unexpected heart attack, shrinking
the original group to only two members.
The future Mrs. Ronald Isley, Angela Winbush,
started assisting in the writing and producing for the Isley
Brothers in 1987 with the "Smooth Sailin'" album. The
Isley Brothers delivered "Tracks of Life" in 1992, with
Marvin and Ernie rejoining brother Ronnie. And the next year, they
released their outstanding "Live!" album.
The Isley Brothers
appeared on movie
soundtracks in the late 90s. In 1995, they were on the soundtrack for
"Friday" featuring
Ice
Cube and Chris Tucker with their
song, "Tryin' to See Another Day." And in 1996, they
performed "Let's Lay Together" on the soundtrack for the
Wayans Brothers' "Don't Be a Menace to Society While Drinking
Your Juice in the Hood." This song is also featured on their 1996
album, "Mission to Please," which features producers
Angela Winbush, R. Kelly,
Babyface, and Keith
Sweat.
For a remarkable stretch of this century, the Isley
Brothers have been an anchor, a life raft and the connective
thread running through a dynamic soul tradition that embraces
rhythm-and-blues, gospel, even jazz. They have been part of every
major movement in popular music since the late Fifties. From doo-wop
to funk, The Isley Brothers' career is an odyssey that still
continues 40 years later.
In 1998, the Isley Brothers celebrated 40
years – forty years – in the business. Not 40 years on the
periphery of the business, but four decades on the cutting edge in the
flow of trends that define the music. Few artists in any genre can
rival the impact of the Isleys on contemporary music.
The Isley Brothers are --
Hit songs include --
- Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)
- Fight The Power
- It's Your Thing
- Take Me To The Next Phase
- Twist And Shout
- Who Loves You Better
- Between The Sheets
- Contagious
- Love The One You're With
- People of Today
- Pop That Thang
- Smooth Sailin' Tonight
- Spend The Night
- Livin' In The Life
- What It Comes Down To
- Choosey Lover
- I Turned You On
- Lay-Away
- That Lady
- This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)
The Isley Brothers
may be available for your next special
event!
For booking information, click
HERE!
Genre: R&B
Styles:
.Quiet Storm.
.Frat Rock.
.Urban.
.Soul.
.Funk
.Early R&B.
.Psychedelic Soul.Years active:
..50s, ..60s, ..70s, ..80s, ..90s, ..00s
Formed: ..in Ohio
..in Cincinnati
in 1954
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Buy this album: "Baby Makin' Music" (2006)
Buy this album: "Body Kiss" (2003)
Buy this album: "Love Songs" (2001)
Buy this album: "Shake It up, Baby" (1999)
Buy this album: "It's Your Thing - Story of The Isley Brothers" (1999)
Buy this album: "Beautiful Ballads" (1994)