The Isley Brothers originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, began as a vocal trio consisting of the brothers O’Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley, and Ronald Isley in the 1950s.
But it wasn’t until the group expanded in 1973, including younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), as well as, and perhaps most pivotally, Rudolph’s brother-in-law Chris Jasper, that they reached legendary status.
‘In 1973, Chris, alongside Ernie and Marvin Isley, transformed The Isley Brothers from a vocal trio into a self-contained six member R&B/Funk group.
The Isley Brothers are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in six different decades and the only act in musical history to have achieved this accomplishment in consecutive decades.
Chris Jasper, the singer-songwriter who helped make the Isley Brothers into a musical phenomenon, has died at the age of 73.
