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51-518: Ronald Isley ( / ˈ aɪ z l i / EYEZ -lee ; born May 21, 1941) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Isley is the lead singer and founding member of the family music group The Isley Brothers . Born in 1941 to Sallye Bernice (née Bell) and O'Kelly Isley Sr, Isley was the third of six brothers ( O'Kelly Isley Jr. , Rudolph Isley , Vernon Isley, Ernie Isley , Marvin Isley ). Ronald, like many of his siblings, began his career in

102-646: A "Legend Award" at the Soul Train Music Awards . In 2013, Ronald released his second solo album This Song Is For You sign labels eOne . Ronald received a nominees Independent R&B/Soul Artist Performance, at the Soul Train Music Awards . In 2014, Ronald made a cameo appearance in the music video for the Kendrick Lamar song " i ". Including his work on songs recorded by the Isley Brothers and R. Kelly, Isley's singles appeared on

153-561: A bout with diabetes forced him to have both of his legs amputated. Ron and Ernie have carried on as a duo from then on. In 2001, the duo released their best-selling album in years with the Eternal album, which sold over two million copies and featured the top 20 hit single " Contagious ", making the Isley Brothers the only act to reach the Hot 100 (in fact, that chart's top 50) during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Two years later,

204-480: A career spanning over seven decades, the group has enjoyed one of the "longest, most influential, and most diverse careers in the pantheon of popular music". Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to New York City in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, and rose to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, " Shout ", written by

255-464: A cover of the Billy Preston hit, "You Are So Beautiful" and a track called "America", a tribute to the nation and a call to come together. In April 2018, Jasper pre-released a double-A single "The Love That You Give/It's a Miracle" from his 15th solo album Dance With You , scheduled for a July 2018 release. Jasper, who earned a law degree in 2004, has continued to write, record, and perform all

306-593: A documentary titled It's Your Thing in theaters in August 1970. By 1971, the younger Isley brothers Ernie and Marvin and their brother-in-law Chris Jasper started to add to the band's music, first performing on the Isleys' Givin' It Back . The album featured reinterpretations of rock songs mixing them with funk and gospel elements. The new members played an even bigger role in the 1972 album, Brother, Brother, Brother . Both albums yielded Top 40 hits, including " Love

357-571: A heart attack while battling cancer, in March 1986. The remaining duo of Ron and Rudy released the Angela Winbush -produced albums, Smooth Sailin' in 1987 and Spend the Night in 1989. Shortly after the latter release, Rudy retired from the music industry and followed life in the ministry . Ron put the group on a brief hiatus in 1990 while he recorded solo material. In 1991, Ron revived

408-469: A major deal with RCA Records in 1959, where the trio wrote and released their debut single " Shout ". By the summer of 1959, the Isley family had moved from Cincinnati to a home in Englewood, New Jersey . Isley has been the Isley Brothers' most longstanding member as well as the main lead vocalist, occasionally sharing with his older brothers. In 1969, Isley reformed T-Neck Records with his brothers in

459-402: A need to produce themselves without the control of record labels, forming the label shortly after ending a brief tenure with Motown . In 1973, the group's style and sound changed following the release of the 3 + 3 album where brothers Ernie Isley and Marvin Isley and in-law Chris Jasper joined the founding brothers' full-time. The younger brothers had been providing instrumental help for

510-575: A new album, titled Make Me Say It Again, Girl . Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group experimented with different musical styles over the course of their career, starting out in rock and roll before shifting their sound to soul music , then funk and funk rock . The group has also performed rhythm and blues and pop ballads . The Isley Brothers were inducted the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. In 1997, they were inducted into Hollywood's Rockwalk , and in 2003 they were inducted to

561-460: A prominent sample of " Between the Sheets ". After the break-up of Isley-Jasper-Isley in 1987, Chris Jasper continued as a solo artist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, forming his own independent record label, Gold City Records. He has since released 14 solo albums, including 4 gospel albums. He released the #1 R&B hit "Superbad" in 1988, a song which emphasized the importance of education,

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612-492: A solo album, Here I Am: Bacharach Meets Isley , with Burt Bacharach . In addition, Ron Isley became a sought-after hook singer for R. Kelly , Warren G , 2Pac and UGK . Isley released his first solo album Mr. I on November 30, 2010. The album includes the first single "No More". It debuted at number 50 on the Billboard 200, selling 22,243 copies. It was his first solo album to crack that chart. In 2010, Isley received

663-436: A spot on Ted Mack 's Amateur Hour , where they won the competition (their prize was a watch). With Vernon singing lead vocals, the quartet soon began touring all over the eastern US , performing in a variety of churches. When Vernon was thirteen, he was killed by a car that struck him as he was riding his bike in his neighborhood. Devastated, the remaining trio disbanded. Eventually persuaded to regroup, with Ronnie assuming

714-488: A theme Jasper continues to emphasize in many of the songs he has written since his days with the Isleys. In January 2013, Jasper released Inspired: By Love, By Life, By the Spirit , a compilation of love songs as well as socially conscious and spiritual tracks. In May 2014, Jasper released The One , reminiscent of the soulful R&B and funk music he wrote for the Isleys. In 2016, Jasper released Share With Me , which included

765-416: Is listed as one of California's most delinquent taxpayers, with a $ 303,411.43 debt from a lien filed on October 22, 2002. The Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers ( / ˈ aɪ z l i / EYEZ -lee ) are an American soul group originally from Cincinnati , Ohio , that began as a vocal trio consisting of the brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr. , Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s. With

816-819: The Essential Chris Jasper which encompasses all of the tracks that Jasper sang lead on during his Isley-Jasper-Isley years and solo career at CBS/Sony Music. In 2015, he received the German Record Critics Lifetime Achievement Award ("Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik"). In 2016, Jasper was awarded the National R&;B Society Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2017, Ernie and Ronnie Isley collaborated with guitarist Carlos Santana and released Power of Peace , released on July 28 by Sony Music's Legacy Recordings. In 2019, Ron and Ernie Isley received

867-620: The Vocal Group Hall of Fame . The Isley Brothers have won two Grammy Awards , including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award . Two of their songs are inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Contagious (song) The video plays as a mini soap opera depicting a man who goes home and finds out his woman has been cheating on him with another man. The song is taken to another level during

918-589: The Dark " was sampled by hip-hop artist Ice Cube for the hit single " It Was a Good Day ". In 1994, The Isley Brothers song " Between the Sheets " was sampled by The Notorious B.I.G. for his hit single " Big Poppa ". That same year, R&B singer Aaliyah included a cover version of " (At Your Best) You Are Love " on her debut album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number . " Luxurious ", the fifth single from No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani 's 2004 multi-platinum solo debut Love. Angel. Music. Baby. also benefited from

969-470: The Hot 100 and number 2 on the R&;B chart, staying on the charts for 19 weeks. The song had been produced by Berns for the brothers to teach then-struggling producer Phil Spector how to produce a hit. Moving their entire operations to New Jersey , the brothers continued to struggle with recordings, and formed T-Neck Records in 1964. During that period, Jimi Hendrix began playing lead guitar for

1020-413: The Isleys and Motown, as Motown argued that the group had recorded the song while still under their Motown contract. A 1975 court decision found in the Isleys' favor. In June 1969, the brothers independently recorded their concert at Yankee Stadium which featured an array of artists. The live album Live at Yankee Stadium was released later that year. They also filmed the concert which was released as

1071-462: The Isleys the first group to score a hit in six consecutive decades on Billboard' s Hot 100. The breakthrough helped their 2001 album Eternal go double platinum. In 2002, the song won a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Group, Band or Duo . R. Kelly makes a cameo in the 2003 follow-up song "Busted" that is told from the prospective of Mr. Biggs and his current partner. In

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1122-538: The National R&B Music Society's Lifetime Achievement Award and Proclamations from the City of Atlantic City, while on stage in Atlantic City, NJ. In 2021 the brothers participated in a Verzuz with fellow R&B band Earth, Wind & Fire hosted by Steve Harvey , to celebrate both bands contributions to R&B & Pop music and African American culture. On September 30, 2022, the Isley Brothers released

1173-519: The One You're With " and " Pop That Thang ". By the end of their Buddah tenure in 1973, the brothers had signed a distribution deal with Epic Records and made Ernie, Marvin, and Chris official members. In 1973, the Isleys released 3 + 3 , which included the Top 10 hit single " That Lady " and a UK Top 10 cover of " Summer Breeze ". Incorporating hard rock and folk-rock as well as funk and soulful balladry,

1224-504: The Teenage, Cindy, and Mark X imprints. The songs were only regional hits, however. By 1959, the group had landed a recording deal with RCA Victor . Later that year, the group recorded their first composition together, " Shout ", mixing their brand of gospel vocals and doo-wop harmonies, a song derived from a Washington, D.C. , club performance in which the brothers had covered Jackie Wilson 's " Lonely Teardrops ". The original version of

1275-567: The Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA . The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , which inducted them in 1992. Five years later, they were added to Hollywood's Rockwalk , and in 2003 they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame . They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. The Isley Brothers originally came from Cincinnati, Ohio, and were raised in

1326-645: The U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in six straight decades, from the 1950s ( "Shout" ) through the 2000s ( "Contagious" ). His 2015 appearance on Lamar's " How Much a Dollar Cost " peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, and his 2021 Isley Brothers track "Friends and Family" failed to hit the main Billboard chart (although it was a Top 50 hit on the R&B and Hip-Hop chart), but do serve to extend his appearances on Billboard charts to eight separate decades. Ronald Isley

1377-567: The World (1976), Go for Your Guns (1977), and Showdown (1978), all of which went platinum, and yielded several Top 40 pop and R&B singles and popular radio cuts. By 1979, with the release of Winner Takes All , the brothers had incorporated disco and quiet storm music into their work. The Isley Brothers' final album under their six-member lineup, Between the Sheets (1983), sold more than two million copies. By then, financial struggles, creative difficulties, and other issues affected

1428-500: The age of 11 was struck and killed by a car while riding his bicycle. By his early teens, Isley was singing regularly with his brothers in church tours and also first appeared on TV on Ted Mack 's Amateur Hour . In 1957, 16-year-old Isley and his two elder brothers O'Kelly and Rudy then 19 and 18 moved to New York to pursue a music career. While in New York, Isley and his brothers began recording doo-wop for local labels before landing

1479-654: The album became their breakthrough hit, eventually selling over two million copies. The following year, the album Live It Up also reached platinum. In 1975, the brothers made one of their most successful recordings, The Heat Is On , which featured the hits " Fight the Power " and " For the Love of You ", and became their first album to reach number 1 on the Pop LP chart, going double-platinum at two million copies sold. The brothers would have more hit albums, including Harvest for

1530-399: The breakdown of the song, where the two men, Mr. Biggs and Kelly, meet once again after their previous collaboration on Kelly's 1995 single " Down Low (Nobody Has to Know) " (although they also collaborated on Kelly Price 's 1998 single " Friend of Mine "). In the middle of the second verse, Ron Isley goes down memory lane after saying "The down low happened to me all over again"; additionally,

1581-545: The brothers since the late 1960s. By the mid-1970s, Isley was living in Teaneck, New Jersey . After Kelly Isley's death in 1986 and Rudy Isley's departure to the ministry in 1989, Ronald has carried on with the Isley Brothers name either as a solo artist or with accompanying help from younger brothers, particularly Ernie. In 1990, Isley scored a top-ten duet with Rod Stewart with a cover of his brothers' hit " This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) ", and in 2003 Ronald recorded

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1632-417: The brothers' Body Kiss album peaked at number-one on the Billboard 200 album chart, becoming their second to reach the position and the first to do so since The Heat Is On . Their next two released albums included 2006's Baby Makin' Music and the 2007 holiday album I'll Be Home for Christmas . In 2007, the Isleys' career was interrupted by Ron Isley's three-year prison sentence for tax evasion. He

1683-407: The brothers' band. Bringing Hendrix with them to the studio, they recorded the song " Testify ". Later, Hendrix contributed guitar to another Isleys single, "Move On Over and Let Me Dance", which was recorded for T-Neck and distributed by Atlantic Records . After both songs failed to chart and Hendrix left the Isleys for good in 1965, the brothers signed with Motown Records . Early the following year,

1734-610: The church. Isley began singing at the age of two, winning a $ 25 war bond (approx. $ 429 in 2022) for singing at a spiritual contest at the Union Baptist Church. By the age of seven, Isley was singing on-stage at venues such as the Regal Theater in Chicago, alongside Dinah Washington and a few other notables. The youngest of the original four Isley Brothers was Vernon (b: 18 June 1943 - d: 24 Sept 1954); who at

1785-513: The city's Lincoln Heights suburb, settling in the satellite town of Blue Ash when they were teenagers. Their father, O'Kelly Isley Sr., a former United States Navy sailor and vaudeville performer from Durham, North Carolina , and their mother Sallye, from Georgia, guided the elder four Isley boys in their singing in church. The brothers began performing together in 1954, patterning themselves after groups such as Billy Ward and His Dominoes and The Dixie Hummingbirds . Eventually, they landed

1836-676: The duo JS/Johnson Sisters . Their son, Ronald Isley, Jr., was born in December 2006. In 2007, it was reported Isley had kidney problems. Isley resided in St. Louis , but now resides in Los Angeles , with his current wife and son. In 2006, Isley was convicted of tax evasion charges. He was to owe the Internal Revenue Service over $ 3.1 million in back taxes and sentenced to three years and one month in prison. Isley's sentence

1887-452: The first appearance of Ernie Isley on bass, became their biggest success to date, reaching number 2 on the Hot 100 and number 1 on the R&B chart. The song's parent album, It's Our Thing , reached number 22 on the Pop LP chart, and "It's Your Thing" became the group's second million-seller and won them a Grammy Award. The release of "It's Your Thing" brought record label conflicts between

1938-519: The group released their second Top 40 hit single, " This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) ". While the Isley Brothers' recordings with Motown were more successful than their earlier works, they struggled to score a follow-up Top 40 hit with the label. They left Motown in 1968. Resurrecting their T-Neck label that year, the brothers signed a distribution deal with Buddah Records and issued " It's Your Thing " in February 1969. The song, which featured

1989-401: The group. Shortly after the success of Between the Sheets , Ernie, Marvin, and Chris left the Isley Brothers and formed Isley-Jasper-Isley . They later recorded the hit " Caravan of Love ". In 1985, the original Isleys trio of O'Kelly, Rudy, and Ronnie signed with Warner Bros. Records and recorded and released the album Masterpiece . Shortly a year after its release, Kelly Isley died from

2040-565: The group; Ernie Isley and brother Marvin returned to the fold. that year they released the album, Tracks of Life . Five years later, Ron Isley gained popularity as video villain Frank Biggs (or Mr. Biggs) in the music video for R. Kelly 's hit " Down Low (Nobody Has to Know) ", which included the Isley Brothers as featured artists. The success of the song and its video helped the brothers' 1996 album Mission to Please reach platinum status. That same year, Marvin Isley's career ended after

2091-453: The lead vocal position, the brothers decided to record popular music and left Cincinnati for New York in 1957 with their parents' blessings. The group got in touch with Richard Barrett, who soon had them in contact with a variety of New York record producers. They eventually had their first recorded songs produced by George Goldner , including "Angels Cried" and "The Cow Jumped Over the Moon" for

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2142-515: The music on his solo albums and produce artists for his Gold City label, including Liz Hogue, Out Front, and Brothaz By Choice. The most recent addition to the Gold City label is Jasper's son, Michael Jasper, a songwriter, recording artist and screenplay writer, who earned his law degree in 2018. In 1989, Chris Jasper wrote, produced and performed on "Make It Last" for Chaka Khan 's CK album. In 2015, in conjunction with Sony Music, Jasper released

2193-465: The original vocal trio into a complete band and led to the group's reaching the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums including 3 + 3 , Between the Sheets , and The Heat Is On , with the latter peaking at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming

2244-489: The short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley . The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986. Afterwards Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. After multiple lineup changes, the remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned

2295-636: The song peaked at number 47 on the Billboard Hot 100 and never reached the R&B chart. Nevertheless, it sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA . Follow-up recordings on RCA Victor failed to chart and the brothers were dropped by the label in 1961 and were later signed by Scepter Records . In 1962, the Isley Brothers scored their first top 40 hit with the Bert Berns song " Twist and Shout ", which reached number 17 on

2346-479: The third verse starts with Mr. Biggs asking R. Kelly "What the hell is going on between the sheets in my own home?", reprising their meeting in the Kelly Price song as well as the title of his own hit " Between the Sheets ", and R. Kelly accuses Mr. Biggs (who recalls seeing him before) of mistaken identity. "Contagious" rose to number 19 on the pop singles chart and number 3 on the R&B singles chart and made

2397-800: The three brothers, which became their first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 , and sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs 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 releasing the Grammy Award-winning hit " It's Your Thing " on their own label, T-Neck Records . 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

2448-571: The top 20 hit " Contagious ". As of 2024 , the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie. The Isley Brothers have sold over 18 million units in the United States alone. With their first major hit charting in 1959 ("Shout"), and their last one in 2001 ("Contagious"), they are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in six different decades. Sixteen of their albums charted in

2499-694: Was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Isley was imprisoned at the Federal Correctional Institution at Terre Haute, Indiana , and was scheduled for release on April 13, 2010. He was moved to a half-way house (Dismas House) in St. Louis, following an early departure that October. After his sentence was completed, Isley was released from a federal half-way house on April 13, 2010. Isley

2550-547: Was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of the Isley Brothers. Isley married Margret Tinsley in 1960, and in 1969 their daughter Trenisha Isley was born. In 1993, he married singer Angela Winbush . They share a daughter named Tawanna Isley who was born during their marriage. The couple divorced in early 2002. Isley suffered a mild stroke in London in 2004, which halted an Isley Brothers tour. In September 2005, he married background singer Kandy Johnson of

2601-482: Was released in 2010. In June of that year, youngest brother Marvin Isley died in Chicago after his longtime bout with diabetes. During the group's hiatus, Ernie toured as part of the Experience Hendrix concert festival, while Ron Isley released his first solo album, Mr. I , in 2010. A year later, Ron and Ernie reunited and have since performed on the road. In 1993, The Isley Brothers song " Footsteps in

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