Rudolph Isley, one of the founders of The Isley Brothers, dies at the age of 84.
Rudolph Isley, one of the founders of the iconic US R&B group The Isley Brothers, has passed away at the age of 84.
Known for hits like “Shout” and “Summer Breeze,” Rudolph played a significant role in shaping the group’s sound.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rudolph began singing in church alongside his brothers Ronald and O’Kelly in his early years. The trio moved to New York in 1957 and has been making music together since then, evolving their sound from church to pop to R&B.
Rudolph Isley was a teenager when the group released their major hit, “Shout,” a secularized church song that gained fame, notably in the toga party scene of the film “Animal House.” During this period, the band collaborated with a young guitarist named Jimi Hendrix, who played with them until 1965.
In the early 1960s, The Isley Brothers produced another hit, “Twist and Shout,” which became a favorite of The Beatles. Their influence continued to grow in the 1970s when younger brothers Ernest and Marvin joined the group. Hits like “That Lady” and “Fight the Power (Part 1)” further solidified their popularity.
Rudolph Isley left the group in 1989, three years after the sudden death of O’Kelly Isley. He subsequently returned to school to become a Christian teacher. In 1992, Rudolph, along with his brothers, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2004, he received a BET award with the band. Ronald Isley expressed his deep love and the family’s sense of loss in a statement, emphasizing that Rudolph would be greatly missed.
