The
Isley Brothers are one of the few groups that
have charted hits in five different decades. (from
the late 1950s to the early 21st century.) They
formed originally as a gospel group in Lincoln Heights,
a small mostly black town just outside of Cincinnati.
They
moved to New York in 1957 and two years later wrote
and released their first hit with the gospel-flavored
stomper,
"Shout," In 1962, the Isleys and released
another hit,
"Twist and Shout." The Beatles heard it
and loved it. The
then-little known group from Liverpool released THEIR
version
of the song and- - -as the saying goes- - -the rest
is history.
The
Isleys, taking their cue from Jimi Hendrix ( who played
guitar
for a year or so during the mid1960's in their touring
band) and
Sly and the Family Stone, truly help shape "funk-as-we-know-it"
here in the 21st century.
They
are rhythm-and-blues legends and deserve many times
over to be in the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. The
Isley Brothers were inducted into the Hall soon after
becoming eligible in the late 1980s.
Of
the original brothers-and-cousin in the band (Ronald,
Rudolph, O'Kelly, Marvin, Ernie and cousin Chris
Jasper), only Ronald and Ernie still perform
on
tour. Rudolph retired and O'Kelly died of a heart
attack in
1986. Must have releases from the Isleys include:
"Three
+ Three," "The Heat Is On," and "License
to Thrill." Lead
vocalist, Ronald, also branched out into a very successful
collaboration
with hip-hop crooner, R. Kelly, in the late 1990s.
If
you attend an Isley Brothers concert , you are likely
Ronald's
hip-hop alter-ego, Mr. Biggs, on display during a
segment of the show. Ernie still plays blazing lead
guitar (Jimi,
who taught young Ernie how to play nearly forty years
ago,
would be pleased).
Concert
rating: A "Must-See."
How
many times will any group with their pedigree come
to your town? See them while you still can!
