Rudolph Isley, a founding member of the multi-million-selling family group the Isley Brothers, has died at the age of 84.
His brother Ronald, the longtime lead singer with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, told People: “There are no words to express my feelings and the love I have for my brother. Our family will miss him. But I know he’s in a better place.”
Rudolph was born on April 1, 1939 in Cincinnati, and had a background in gospel, performing as a quartet in churches in Ohio and Kentucky. In April 1956, Rudolph, Ronald, and a third brother, O’Kelly, moved to New York, aged 15, 17, and 18, respectively. In 1955, the fourth brother, Vernon, was tragically killed in a car accident.
In New York, the brothers recorded for such independent companies as Teenage, Cindy and George Goldner’s Gone and Mark-X imprints. The Isley Brothers signed to RCA in 1959 and recorded the memorable “Shout”; the group’s first chart entry came in 1962 with “Twist And Shout,” a No.2 R&B hit that also went Top 20 pop. Both songs were highly influential, especially on the rising tide of British stars, becoming staging post recordings for Lulu and The Beatles respectively.
After spells with several other labels, the group signed to Motown, registering such signature singles as “This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You)” and “I Guess I’ll Always Love You,” “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While),” and “Behind A Painted Smile.” But they struggled to dine at Motown’s top table and left the company in 1968 to revive their T-Neck label.
With all three brothers as co-writers, they were to become one of the premier soul forces of the next two decades, starting with a four-week R&B chart champion in the strident “It’s Your Thing,” also a U.S. pop No.2, in 1969. As they evolved into a band line-up with the addition of younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and in-law Chris Jasper, the 1970s brought further massive single and album success with originals and covers, and five more R&B No.1s between 1975 and 1980. They released a succession of platinum albums during the period, and two that went double platinum, 1975’s The Heat Is On and 1977’s Go For Your Guns.
“Rudy” dressed extravagantly, often in fur and carrying a cane, and frequently shared lead vocals with Ron and Kelly. The sudden death of the latter brother in 1986 hit Rudolph hard, and he retired from music permanently in 1989 to become a Christian minister. The group continued to further acclaim on Warner Brothers, and Rudy reunited with Ronald and Ernie in 2004 when the group won a lifetime achievement BET Award, the last time they shared a stage.