The Isley Brothers
When it comes to American music, one band stands above all others. The Isley Brothers have left an indelible mark on the industry, influencing everyone from The Beatles to rapper Ice Cube. Paul McCartney once said, “If it wasn’t for the Isley Brothers, The Beatles would still be in Liverpool.” In 2025, they celebrate their 66th anniversary since their first hit “Shout!”—the song that launched a legacy. They are the only group in history to chart on the Billboard charts for eight consecutive decades and remain the most sampled group in music history.
The Isley Brothers began in the mid-1950s as a gospel quartet. Tragically, the band was forced to pause when Vernon Isley died at age 13. The remaining brothers—O’Kelly, Rudolph, and Ronald—moved to New York City in 1957 to pursue rock ’n’ roll. They wrote their breakthrough hit “Shout!,” which continues to be played at celebrations worldwide.
From their debut album in 1959, the Isley Brothers have continuously redefined music with their distinctive sound. They have dominated Black music charts like no other group before or since. Over the years, their lineup has included legends like Jimi Hendrix and Elton John, and their catalog boasts one of the most celebrated runs of albums in R&B history.
Their discography shows unmatched versatility, from the underrated brilliance of Givin’ It Back to the soul-funk classics 3+3 and Go for Your Guns, and the glitter rock gem Brother, Brother, Brother. Their 1975 anthem “Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)” was later sampled by Public Enemy for their own groundbreaking hit. The Isleys also thrived in the disco era, pioneered quiet storm ballads, and delivered countless romantic slow jams.
Their influence has been recognized with numerous honors. They were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, received a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2014, and joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022. Their music has been sampled or reimagined by artists including The Notorious B.I.G., Megan Thee Stallion, Drake, and Jay-Z.
In April 2020, they released the feel-good hit Friends & Family featuring Snoop Dogg. In September 2022, they followed with the album Make Me Say It Again Girl, whose title track—featuring Beyoncé—hit No. 1 on the Adult R&B chart for five consecutive weeks, stayed in the top ten for over eight months, and won a Soul Train Award for Best Collaboration. Other collaborators on the album include 2 Chainz, Quavo and Takeoff, Rick Ross, Earth, Wind & Fire, El DeBarge, and Snoop Dogg.
The Isley Brothers are forever living legends. Both Ron and Ernie continue to tour together, thrilling audiences more than six decades after they first taught the world to “Shout.” With a peerless catalog for every mood and era, they remain, in many respects, the most important and influential band in the history of American music.