From gospel harmony to million-selling shout choruses to blistering funk, the Isley Brothers reshaped American soul across six decades.
MOODS · soulful · funky · celebratory · romantic · groove-driven · historic · triumphant · warm · danceable · enduring
BIOGRAPHY
The Isley Brothers formed in Cincinnati in 1954 as a vocal trio of brothers O'Kelly, Rudolph and Ronald Isley, following gospel performances with a fourth brother, Vernon, who died that year. After relocating to New York, the group broke through in 1959 with "Shout," a million-selling single that launched their run on the pop charts.
Through the 1960s they moved between labels, notching hits like "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine," then founded their own T-Neck Records for the Grammy-winning "It's Your Thing" (1969); a young Jimmy James, later known as Jimi Hendrix, briefly played guitar in their backing band. In 1973 younger brothers Ernie and Marvin, plus brother-in-law Chris Jasper, joined, powering a decade of hit albums including 3 + 3 and the chart-topping The Heat Is On.
WHY THEY'RE COOL
Few groups can claim chart hits across six different consecutive decades, from 1959's "Shout" to 2001's "Contagious," a feat that earned the Isley Brothers a Guinness World Record. Their catalog traces the evolution of Black American popular music itself: gritty early R&B, Motown-polished soul, and the blistering funk of their 1970s peak with 3 + 3 and The Heat Is On. Along the way they gave a young Jimi Hendrix an early stage, launched their own label with T-Neck Records, and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, later receiving a Grammy lifetime achievement award.
GEORGE'S PLAYS
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