Rudolph Isley, a founding member of the iconic R&B group The Isley Brothers, died Wednesday in Illinois. The cause of death is unclear, but it is believed he suffered a heart attack. Isley left the group in 1989 to pursue a career as a Christian minister, but reunited with his brothers over the years.
In 1992, The Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Little Richard. Isley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1939. He began singing in church at a young age, and formed The Isley Brothers with his brothers Ronald, O’Kelly, and Vernon in the early 1950s. The group had their first major hit in 1959 with the song “Shout.” They went on to release a string of hits throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You),” “It’s Your Thing,” and “That Lady.”
Isley left the group in 1989 to pursue a career as a Christian minister. He released several gospel albums and toured extensively. He reunited with The Isley Brothers on several occasions, and the group released their final album together in
Isley was a gifted singer and songwriter, and his contributions to The Isley Brothers’ music are immense. He was also a pioneer in the R&B and soul genres. His death is a great loss to the music world.