Rudolph Isley, one of the three brothers of the successful American group The Isley Brothers, author of the hits Shout and This Old Heart Of Mine, has died at the age of 84, the group announced Thursday October 12.
“Heaven has gained a new angel. Our hearts are heavy as we announce the death of our beloved brother, Rudolph Isley,” his family wrote on the group’s social media.
If the press release does not specify the cause or date of death, several American media reported that Rudolph Isley died in his sleep on Wednesday at his home in Chicago. The singer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1939 and founded the band The Isley Brothers with his brothers in the 1950s.
Became a pastor
Originally a gospel group, The Isley Brothers made a name for themselves with their rock and funk hits Shout! released in 1959, This Old Heart of Mine (1966) and It’s Your Thing (1969) which won a Grammy in 1970, a prestigious award in the American music industry.
Rudoph left the group in 1989 to become a pastor, but was present when the group was inducted into the American rock and roll hall of fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1992.
