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PRINTER FRIENDLY PAGE. To view this group's HOME page, click or visit: http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/Isley-Brothers.htm **
Booking the Isley Brothers - R&B Artists - Quiet Storm, Urban, R&B, Funk, Soul - © Richard De La Font Agency, Inc. - For serious booking inquiries only, click here: For More Information
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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 --
The Isley Brothers may be available for your next special event. For booking information, click HERE!
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for your special event,
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