Rudolph Isley, Founding Member Of The Isley Brothers, Dead At 84
Rudolph Isley, a founding member of The Isley Brothers, has died. He was 84. According to TMZ, Rudolph died on Wednesday (Oct. 11) in Illinois. The official cause of death has not been made at this time. A source told the publication that it is possible that he suffered a heart attack.
Rudolph began singing in the church and then created The Isley Brothers with his siblings Ronald, O’Kelly, and Vernon. Vernon was tragically killed when he was 13 when he was riding a bike. Later on, the group consisted of Rudolph’s younger brothers Ernie and Marvin, and Rudolph’s brother-in-law Chris Jasper in the early 1970s. Rudolph married his wife Elaine Jasper in 1958.
The group was known for songs such as “Shout,” “This Old Heart of Mine,” “Twist & Shout,” “It’s Your Thing,” and more.
Rudolph left the group in 1989 to become a minister. Over the years he made appearances with the group such as when they were honored with the BET Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004.
The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. They were presented with the award by Little Richard.
In 2014, The Grammys recognized The Isley Brothers’ musical achievements with The Lifetime Achievement award.
Rudolph Isley Sues Ronald Isley Over Trademark Of “The Isley Brothers”
The oldest Isley brother, O’Kelly, died in 1986. He died of a heart attack in his New Jersey home at the age of 48. Marvin Isley died in 2010 after a complication with his diabetes. He was 56. The two remaining members of The Isley Brothers (and the only active members prior to Rudolph’s death) are Ronald and Ernie Isley.
Earlier this year, Rudolph sued his brother Ronald over the trademark of “The Isley Brothers.” According to Rudolph, Ronald did not register the name of the group properly which left him out as an equal owner of the asset. According to Pitchfork, Rudolph was seeking “a judgement forcing Ronald to account for and pay his 50 percent share of the proceeds he’s collected on the trademark.”
Celebrity Deaths 2023: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost
