Isley Brothers

The Isley Brothers, a foundational American musical group, have significantly influenced soul, funk, and R&B music across six decades. After achieving their first major success in 1959 with ‘Shout,’ selling over a million copies and marking their debut on the Billboard Hot 100, The Isley Brothers established themselves as foundational artists in American music. The vocal trio, comprising O’Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley, and Ronald Isley, began their musical journey in 1954. Following early releases, they signed with Scepter Records in 1961, achieving another top 20 hit with ‘Twist and Shout’ in 1962.

Their album ‘3 + 3’ (1973) sold over two million copies, and ‘The Heat Is On’ (1975) reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. The six-member lineup continued to release top-selling albums, including ‘Between the Sheets’ (1983), which also sold over two million copies. After the original trio signed with Warner Bros. Records for the 1985 album ‘Masterpiece,’ O’Kelly Isley passed away in 1986, and Rudolph Isley retired from music in 1989.

In 2021, they participated in a highly anticipated Verzuz event with Earth, Wind & Fire, followed by the release of ‘Make Me Say It Again, Girl’ featuring Beyoncé in 2022. The Isley Brothers also hold a Guinness World Record for the longest time spanning the US R&B album chart by a group, and as of 2025, Ronald and Ernie Isley continue to perform globally.