The Isley Brothers are an American family musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O’Kelly “Kelly” Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley, and Ronald Isley in the late 1950s.
What made the Isley Brothers famous?
Other songs made famous by The Isley Brothers include “Twist and Shout” and “This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You)” along with “It’s Your Thing,” which earned them a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group.
How did the Isley Brothers get famous?
Their first hit was 1958’s Shout, later covered by Lulu, and during this period the Isley Brothers picked up a young guitar player from Seattle named Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix left in 1965 to find fame of his own, and the Alleys signed with Berry Gordy’s Motown label.
Rudolph was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1939. He sang with his brothers O’Kelly, Ronald, and Vernon Isley, forming the group the Isley Brothers in 1954, but they briefly quit performing in 1955 after Vernon was killed while riding his bicycle.