Starting their careers in the gospel performing circuit in the early 1950s, they eventually crossed over to secular music first finding modest success in doo-wop until the release of their first million-selling hit, "Shout", in 1959. After several flops resulted in them being dropped from their record label, they found success again with sixties hits such as "Twist and Shout", later covered successfully by The Beatles and the Motown hit, "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" in 1962 and 1966 respectively. The group didn't find success again until the end of the decade when their 1969 single, "It's Your Thing", (with Ernie Isley on bass guitar) was released. The song brought them success in the then-fledgling funk genre.
After forming their own label, T-Neck Records, the group found modest success with their own recordings between 1969 and 1972 until revamping the vocal group into a sextet in 1973 with the release of their landmark album, 3 + 3, this time featuring younger brothers Ernie Isley and Marvin Isley and brother-in-law Chris Jasper who brought the musical and songwriting component to the group, making them a self-contained band. The addition of Ernie, Marvin, and Chris led to their most successful period as they successfully mixed their brand of R&B with rock, soul and funk elements. Hits they would have during that period included a revamped version of their 1964 song "That Lady" (featuring Ernie's characteristic guitar playing), "Fight the Power" (written by Ernie), "For the Love of You" and "Between the Sheets" (written by Chris and Ernie).
In 1984 the group split up after the departure of Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper (who formed Isley-Jasper-Isley and reached #1 on the charts with "Caravan of Love" a year later). The original trio released Masterpiece in 1985. By that time O'Kelly Isley had fallen ill and died the following year. Rudolph and Ronald released the post O'Kelly albums, Smooth Sailin' and Spend the Night in 1987 and 1989 respectively, collaborating with Angela Winbush. Rudolph retired in 1989, leaving Ronald by himself.
In 1991, Ernie and Marvin teamed up with Ronald again for the next album, Tracks of Life. In 1997, Marvin retired from the group and show business after developing diabetes forcing Ronald and Ernie to continue the group as a duo. The duo scored a top 40 hit with "Contagious" in 2001. With that hit, The Isley Brothers became the only act to have at least one Hot 100 hit in each of six consecutive decades: the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. The Isleys managed to reach the top 40 in the last five of those decades.
The Isleys and Jasper were inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by Little Richard in 1992. They are the recipients of a single Grammy Award.
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