Rudolph Isley, a Founding Member of The Isley Brothers, Dies at 84

Rudolph Isley, a singer and one of the original members of the legendary R&B and soul group The Isley Brothers, passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at his home in Illinois. He was 84 years old. The cause of his death has not been officially confirmed, but some sources say he suffered a heart attack.

Rudolph was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1939. He began singing in his church choir as a child and formed The Isley Brothers with his brothers Ronald, O’Kelly, and Vernon in the early 1950s. The group moved to New York after Vernon died in a car accident and signed with RCA Records. They released their first hit song, “Shout”, in 1959, which became a classic anthem for generations of music fans. Rudolph sang lead vocals on some of their songs, such as “Don’t Be Jealous” and “I’m Gonna Knock on Your Door”.

The Isley Brothers were one of the most influential and successful groups in music history, with a career that spanned over six decades. They experimented with different genres, such as rock, funk, disco, and hip hop, and collaborated with artists like Jimi Hendrix, Santana, and R. Kelly. They had numerous chart-topping songs, such as “Twist & Shout”, “This Old Heart of Mine”, “It’s Your Thing”, “That Lady”, “Between the Sheets”, and “Contagious”. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

Rudolph left the group in 1989 to pursue his calling as a Christian minister. He founded the Rudolph Isley Ministries and preached the gospel around the world. He reunited with his brothers occasionally for special events and performances. He is survived by his wife Elaine, his children, his grandchildren, and his brother Ronald. He will be remembered as a pioneer and a legend in the music industry.