Legendary Voice of The Isley Brothers, Rudolph Isley, Passes Away at 84 - A Tribute to a Music Icon
Rudolph Isley, a founding member of The Isley Brothers, has passed away at the age of 84, as confirmed by his family The music world mourns the loss of this R&B legend
Rudolph Isley, one of the founding members of the R&B group The Isley Brothers, has died, his family announced.
He was 84.
"I cannot adequately express the depth of my emotions and the profound love I hold for my brother. His presence will be sorely missed by our entire family. However, I take solace in knowing that he has found peace in a better realm," shared Ronald Isley, brother of Rudolph and co-founder of the Isley Brothers band, in a statement to CNN on Thursday.
According to a representative for The Isley Brothers, Rudolph passed away on Wednesday. The exact cause of his death is currently unknown.
The Isley Brothers band came together in the mid-1950s as teenagers, with Rudolph, Ronald, OKelly, and Vernon Isley forming a gospel quartet. Sadly, Vernon passed away at the age of 13, but the brothers persevered and eventually released their first major hit, "Shout!" in 1959.
The Isley Brothers: (l to r) Rudolph, O'Kelly and Ronnie, performing together in an undated photo.
Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis/Getty Images
The Isley Brothers enjoyed long-lasting success with hits such as "Love The One You're With," "Testify," and "Between the Sheets," despite changes in their lineup over the years. After leaving the band in 1986 to pursue a career in Christian ministry, Rudolph reunited with the group in 1992 for their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
While still with The Isley Brothers, the Cincinnati-native achieved recognition with a Grammy win in 1970 for their popular hit song "Its Your Thing" from their 1969 album "Its Our Thing." In recent times, Rudolph and Ronald have been involved in legal proceedings since March, pertaining to a trademark dispute over the ownership of the band's name, as reported by Billboard.
