Biography of The Isley Brothers

They're still at it: recording artists since 1957, and hitmakers for almost as long. Inevitably, their music has changed, but this group's chief claim to fame remains their secularization of gospel call-and-response. They found that particular groove on "Shout" (cut for RCA in 1959), later followed by "Twist and Shout" on Wand in 1962 -- definitely one of the ballsier twist records. Four years in the commercial wilderness followed before they signed with Tamla and came up with "This Old Heart of Mine."They didn't work long on the Motown assembly line, though, and in 1969 revived their own T-Neck Records. Twenty years later they were still grinding out hits on the label, although their first T-Neck smash, "It's Your Thing," remains their biggest. Brothers have come and gone, as have sidemen -- including Jimi Hendrix at one point. Still, the family that plays together stays together, although the group trading as The Isley Brothers today includes elements of Isley-Jasper-Isley (two younger brothers and a cousin), who had a hit with "Caravan of Love" in 1985. The great second generation family unit 3 + 3 finally disbanded in 1984. At that time the original trio continued recording for Warner Bros., while the younger threesome worked as Isley/Jasper/Isley. When O'Kelly suffered a heart attack in 1986, Ronald and Rudolph continued without him. Ronald Isley's wife, Angela Winbush, contributed production and compositions, as well as sang backgrounds for the 1987 Smooth Sailing LP. Their most recent release was Tracks of Life in 1992. Ronald Isley became her manager and collaborator on her projects. After working together until 1990, Isley-Jasper-Isley split into various groups as well. Ernie Isley and Chris Jasper became solo artists. ~ Colin Escott and Ron Wynn