Together with a fourth brother, Vernon, the group performed gospel music until Vernon's death a few years after its formation. After moving to the New York City area in the late 1950s, the group had their first successes during these early years, first coming to prominence in 1959 with their fourth single, "Shout", written by the three brothers. Initially a modest charted single, the song eventually sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the group recorded songs for a variety of labels, including the top 20 single "Twist and Shout" and the Motown single "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", before recording and issuing the Grammy Award-winning hit "It's Your Thing" on their own label, T-Neck Records.
Influenced by gospel and doo-wop music, the group began experimenting with different musical styles incorporating elements of rock and funk as well as pop balladry. The inclusion of younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), and Rudolph's brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards, synthesizers), in 1973 turned the original vocal trio into a complete band and reached the height of their success. For the next full decade, they recorded a string of top-selling albums from 3 + 3 to Between the Sheets, including the number one album The Heat Is On.
The six-member band splintered in 1983, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper forming the short-lived spinoff group Isley-Jasper-Isley. The oldest member, O'Kelly, died in 1986 and Rudolph and Ronald released a pair of albums as a duo before Rudolph retired to a life in the Christian ministry in 1989. Ronald reconvened the group two years later in 1991 with Ernie and Marvin; five years later, in 1996, Marvin Isley left the group due to complications of diabetes. The remaining duo of Ronald and Ernie achieved mainstream success with the albums Mission to Please (1996), Eternal (2001) and Body Kiss (2003). Eternal spawned the top twenty hit "Contagious". As of 2019, the Isley Brothers continue to perform under the lineup of Ronald and Ernie.
The Isley Brothers have sold over 18 million units in the United States alone. They have had several hit songs including four Top 10 singles on the United States Billboard chart. With their first major hit charting in 1959 ("Shout"), and their last one in 2001 ("Contagious"), they are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in five different decades. Sixteen of their albums charted in the Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA. The brothers have been honored by several musical institutions, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted them in 1992. Five years later, they were added to Hollywood's Rockwalk, and in 2003 they were inducted to the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. They received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers
Studio albums
Shout! (1959)
Twist & Shout (1962)
Twisting and Shouting (1963)
This Old Heart of Mine (1966)
Soul on the Rocks (1967)
It's Our Thing (1969)
The Brothers: Isley (1969)
Get into Something (1970)
Givin' It Back (1971)
Brother, Brother, Brother (1972)
3 + 3 (1973)
Live It Up (1974)
The Heat Is On (1975)
Harvest for the World (1976)
Go for Your Guns (1977)
Showdown (1978)
Winner Takes All (1979)
Go All the Way (1980)
Grand Slam (1981)
Inside You (1981)
The Real Deal (1982)
Between the Sheets (1983)
Masterpiece (1985)
Smooth Sailin' (1987)
Spend the Night (1989)
Tracks of Life (1992)
Mission to Please (1996)
Eternal (2001)
Body Kiss (2003)
Baby Makin' Music (2006)
Power of Peace (2017)
Ernie's Jam
The Isley Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Listen, listen
I was born to sing this music yeah
My brother was born to play his guitar, yeah
The sweet melody sent straight down from heaven
And oh, now you know, now you know who we are
Lord, go out and find your star
Try and find, find your star
Find out who you are
The Isley Brothers's song Ernie's Jam is a soulful hymn that celebrates the beauty of music and reminds the listeners of the power of finding one's purpose. The song begins with a captivating introduction that exudes a sense of joy and excitement. The lyrics describe the divine purpose that each of the Isley Brothers was born with. The lead singer's calling was to use his voice to sing soulful music, while his brother was destined to play the guitar, which produced the sweet melody that flows like manna from heaven.
The chorus encourages the audience to go out and find their star, which represents their unique purpose in life. The Isley Brothers urge the listeners to explore their talents and passions and to use them to discover who they truly are. The song emphasizes the importance of discovering one's identity and encourages listeners to overcome their fears and pursue their dreams confidently.
In summary, Ernie's Jam is a song that celebrates the power of music and encourages individuals to seek out their unique purpose in life. The Isley Brothers remind us that each of us is born with a calling, and if we follow our passions, we can discover who we truly are and find happiness and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Expressing excitement and anticipation for the upcoming song.
Listen, listen
Asking the audience to pay attention and absorb the following message.
I was born to sing this music yeah
Believing that singing music is the singer's true calling in life.
My brother was born to play his guitar, yeah
Believing that playing guitar is the guitarist's true calling in life.
The sweet melody sent straight down from heaven
Acknowledging the music as a gift from a higher power, and describing it as pleasant and harmonious.
And oh, now you know, now you know who we are
Implying that the previous lines reveal the band's identity, both in skill and soul.
Lord, go out and find your star
Addressing the divine force and encouraging the audience to find their own calling in life.
Whatever it is, listen
Regardless of what it is, pay attention to your true calling.
Try and find, find your star
Encouraging the audience to explore themselves and find their true passion.
Find out who you are
Emphasizing the importance of self-discovery and self-awareness.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: RONALD ISLEY, ERNIE ISLEY, RAPHAEL SAADIQ, RICHARD OSUNA, GEORGE STANDRIDGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nataly's Corner
Why there are "9" thumbs down on this one...is beyond me. The music is tight...and the Vid photos are 99% Ernie...so I can't understand why the thumbs down...unless the "9" just don't like good music...at all! So this is what I would say: You really don't have to like me... or my Channel...but are you being fair to the Artist and his/her music when you thumbs down? Just a thought.
Roosevelt Hardy jr.
@Krys King a blessing.
Roosevelt Hardy jr.
You had to have lived it to
understand.
JC
The few "thumbs down people" just don't get it! But, that's okay, since most of us do. 🥳🤩😍🎉🏆❤🎶🎵
janelle strozier
Love this song
Mug
Blame them or their genes but some people can't hear it. They can't help it. Either you can or cant. Really not their fault. Some just can't. Like hearing a flat note vs a sharp note. But like others have said, some just hate.
Bertram Attles
Without question Ernie Isley is one of the greatest guitarist in history. He was influenced by the great Jimmi Hendrix and took that influence and made his own style. It always amazed me how he is not talk about in this respect. He can hold his own with all the great rock guitarist and in my opinion he has no equal. He can play hard riffs and also melodic passages with ease. He is a master guitar player in every right. He gives the Isley Brothers sound a uniqueness that no soul group can match. Ron Isley has a minimalist way of delivering his lyrics along with Ernie's guitar accenting the verses makes for a dynamite combination.
Sheshe661972
Absolutely! 💯💯💯
DaDood Darren21
The man is a guitar god bro.
Stede Bassett
Amen