The Isley Brothers

Their first records like “Angels Cried” and “The Cow Jumped Over the Moon” were produced by George Goldner. Two years later the brothers entered recording deal with RCA Records. Later that year the group recorded “Shout” which performed decently on charts. Other records with RCA failed to chart so in 1961 the left and signed with Scepter Records. In 1962, the brothers scored their first top 40 hit with “Twist and Shout”. They then moved to New Jersey and struggled to make another hit. After forming T-Neck Records in 1964 they brought Jimi Hendrix into the group as their lead guitarist and they recorded the song “Testify”. Hendrix accompanied another one of their singles, “Move On Over and Let Me Dance” but left them after the songs did not do too well in the charts in 1965. 

The brothers signed with Motown Records where they produced more successful recordings in comparison to their earlier ones but still struggled to provide a top 40 hit so hey left Motown in 1968 and reformed their T-Neck label that year. They issued “It’s Your Thing” which included the first appearance of Ernie Isley. The song was their biggest success to date. Ernie Isley and Marvin Isley and brother-in-law Chris Jasper joined the band after signing a distribution deal with Epic Records and made Ernie, Marvin, and Chris official members. In 1973, the Isleys released 3 + 3 and the album became their breakthrough hit, eventually selling over two million copies.

Next year Live It Up reached gold and in 1975, the brothers recorded one of their most successful recordings with The Heat Is On. The brothers would have more hit albums, including Harvest for the World, Go for Your Guns, and Showdown. The brothers’ final album in 1983 was Between the Sheets, sold more than two million copies. Shortly after the success of Between the Sheets, Ernie, Marvin, and Chris left the Isley Brothers due to a multitude of issues and formed Isley-Jasper-Isley.

In 1985, the trio of O’Kelly, Rudy, and Ronnie signed with Warner Bros. Records and released Masterpiece. Kelly Isley died shortly after. Then Ron and Rudy released the albums, Smooth Sailin’ (1987) and Spend the Night (1989). Rudy then retired from making music to begin gospel ministry. In 1991, Ron revived the group with Ernie Isley and brother Marvin and they released the album, Tracks of Life. 

Ron and Ernie became a duo once Marvin had his legs amputated. They released their best-selling album in years with the Eternal album in 2001. The hit single “Contagious”, made the Isley Brothers the only act to reach the Hot 100 during the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. The duo released several albums in the following years until in 2007 Ron Isley’s was sentenced to three years in prison for tax evasion. Marvin Isley died in Chicago in 2010. In 2011, Ron and Ernie came back together and they have been performing on the road since. Ernie and Ronnie Isley released Power of Peace with music legend guitarist Carlos Santana in 2017.