Rudolph Isley, singer and founding member of The Isley Brothers, has died, per TMZ. He was 84.
On Wednesday (October 11), the singer died in Illinois, according to TMZ. His cause of death remains unclear.
Rudolph created The Isley Brothers with his siblings Ronald, O’Kelly, and Vernon when he was a teenager.
Following Vernon’s death in 1955, the brothers moved to New York, signing with RCA Records. A few years later, The Isley Brothers debuted their first song, “Shout,” which became one of the group’s greatest hits.
The brothers experienced continued success with their songs “Twist & Shout,” “This Old Heart of Mine,” and “It’s Your Thing.” In 1971, the group brought on younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and Rudolph’s brother-in-law Chris Jasper to continue making hits.
The Isley Brothers: The RCA Victor and T-Neck Album Masters (1959-1983), a monumental 23-disc box set, to be released on Friday, August 21, 2015 (PRNewsFoto/Legacy Recordings/File)
Rudolph left the group in 1989 to become a Christian minister. He later reunited with The Isley Brothers, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
The group’s hits are also sampled in popular rap hits including Ice Cube’s “It Was a Good Day” and Notorious B.I.G.’s “Big Poppa.”
Rest in peace, Rudolph Isley.
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