Rudolph Isley, one of the three brothers of the successful American group “The Isley Brothers” author of hits Shout And This Old Heart Of Mine died at the age of 84, the group announced Thursday.
“Heaven has gained a new angel. Our hearts are heavy to announce the death of our beloved brother, Rudolph Isley,” his family wrote on the group’s social networks.
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.
From gospel to rock
The singer was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1939 and founded the band “The Isley Brothers” with his brothers in the 1950s.
Originally a gospel group, “The Isley Brothers” became known with their rock and funk hits. Shout! released in 1959, This Old Heart of Mine (1966) or even It’s your thing (1969) which won a Grammy, a prestigious award in the American music industry.
The group was entered into the American pantheon of rock and popular music, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1992. Rudoph left the group in 1989 to become a pastor.