The Isley Brothers founding member Rudloph Isley has passed away at the age of 84. A source tells TMZ that he died on Wednesday (10/11) in Illinois, and the cause is currently believed to be a heart attack.
Rudolph, who began singing as a child in church, formed The Isley Brothers with his brothers, O’Kelly “Kelly” Isley Jr. (who died in 1986), Ronald Isley, and Vernon Isley (who died after being hit by a car in 1955) in 1954. They had a hit with “Shout” in 1959 and released their debut album of the same name later that year, going on to rework “Twist & Shout” in 1962, which was their first top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. The trio expanded into a band and had further success with albums including 3 + 3, The Heat Is On, and Between the Sheets in the ’70s and ’80s.
Rudloph left the group in 1989, following the death O’Kelly, with whom he’d been close, and became a Christian minister. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Isley Brothers in 1992.
Rest in peace, Rudolph.
