Rudolph Isley, Founding Member Of The Isley Brothers, Dead At 84

Rudolph Isley, one of the founding members of The Isley Brothers, has died at age 84.

According to TMZ, the singer passed away on Wednesday (Oct. 11) and reportedly died from a heart attack—though an official cause of death is unknown.

Alex Isley, daughter of Ernie Isley, confirmed the news via her Instagram Stories on Thursday. “Rest well, Uncle Rudolph. Please keep the brothers and our family in your prayers.”

The Isley Brothers was founded by Rudolph, Ronald, and O’Kelly Isley in 1954. They performed gospel music as a quartet with their younger brother Vernon until his tragic death in 1955. The remaining members became a R&B trio before their other brothers Ernie, Marvin, and Rudolph’s brother-in-law, Chris Jasper, joined the group in 1971.

Rudolph left the group in 1989 to become a Christian pastor, but reunited with his brothers for select moments like their induction into the Rock and Rock Hall Of Fame in 1992 and their 2004 BET Awards performance.

When speaking on his eternal influence on the group, Alex Isley also shared on Instagram Stories, “That cane that my Uncle Ronald is known for initially belonged to Uncle Rudolph.”

Rudolph’s death comes months after he sued Ronald Isley over the trademark to the Isley Brothers name.

He initially filed the lawsuit back in March, claiming that he “jointly owned” the trademark with the “Contagious” crooner. When the group was formed, they operated under a “common-law partnership,” and mutually shared expenses, profits, and control of the band’s business. Even with their commercial success, the lawsuit stipulates that they “remained an equal partnership under the sole ownership, direction and control of its founding members.”

In August, a judge denied to dismiss Rudolph’s lawsuit meaning that it was set to go to trial. However, a date was never set.

VIBE sends our deepest condolences to Ronald, Ernie, the Isley family, and all those affected by this loss.

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