Ronald Isley - Wikipedia

American singer and songwriter (born 1941) "Mr. Biggs" redirects here. For the restaurant chain, see Mr Bigg's.

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Ronald Isley
Isley in 1996
Background information
Also known as	Mr. Biggs
Born	(1941-05-21) May 21, 1941 (age 84)[1][2]Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Genres	R&B soul funk quiet storm
Occupations	Singer songwriter record producer
Instrument	Vocals
Works	Solo Isley Brothers
Years active	1954–present
Labels	T-Neck Def Soul Island Def Jam eOne
Member of	The Isley Brothers
Spouses	Margret Tinsley ​ ​(m. 1960; div. 1987)​ Angela Winbush ​ ​(m. 1993; div. 2002)​ Kandy Johnson ​(m. 2005)​
Website	Official Webpage

Musical artist

Ronald Isley (/ˈaɪzli/ EYEZ-lee; born May 21, 1941)[3] is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Isley is the lead singer, a founding member, and last surviving original member of the family music group The Isley Brothers.

Early life

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Born in 1941 to Sallye Bernice (née Bell) and O'Kelly Isley Sr, Isley was the third of six brothers (O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley, Vernon Isley, Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley).[4] The youngest of the original four Isley Brothers was Vernon (b: 18 June 1943 - d: 24 Sept 1954); who at the age of 11 was struck and killed by a car while riding his bicycle.[5][better source needed]

Career

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By his early teens, Isley was singing regularly with his brothers in church tours and also first appeared on TV on Ted Mack's Amateur Hour. In 1957, 16-year-old Isley and his two elder brothers O'Kelly and Rudy then 19 and 18 moved to New York to pursue a music career. While in New York, Isley and his brothers began recording doo-wop for local labels before landing a major deal with RCA Records in 1959, where the trio wrote and released their debut single "Shout". By the summer of 1959, the Isley family had moved from Cincinnati to a home in Englewood, New Jersey.[6]

Ron has been the Isley Brothers' longest-standing member as well as the main lead vocalist, occasionally sharing with his older brothers. In 1969, Isley reformed T-Neck Records with his brothers in a need to produce themselves without the control of record labels, forming the label shortly after ending a brief tenure with Motown.[7] In 1973, the group's style and sound changed following the release of the 3 + 3 album where brothers Ernie Isley and Marvin Isley and in-law Chris Jasper joined the founding brothers' full-time. The younger brothers had been providing instrumental help for the brothers since the late 1960s. By the mid-1970s, Isley was living in Teaneck, New Jersey.[6]

After Kelly Isley's death in 1986 and Rudy Isley's departure to the ministry in 1989, Ronald has carried on with the Isley Brothers name either as a solo artist or with accompanying help from younger brothers, particularly Ernie. In 1990, Isley scored a top-ten duet with Rod Stewart with a cover of his brothers' hit "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)", and in 2003 Ronald recorded a solo album, Here I Am: Bacharach Meets Isley, with Burt Bacharach. In addition, Ron Isley became a sought-after hook singer for R. Kelly, Warren G, 2Pac and UGK.[citation needed] Isley released his first solo album Mr. I on November 30, 2010. The album includes the first single "No More". It debuted at number 50 on the Billboard 200, selling 22,243 copies. It was his first solo album to crack that chart.[8]

In 2010, Isley received a "Legend Award" at the Soul Train Music Awards.[9] In 2013, Ronald released his second solo album This Song Is For You sign labels eOne.[10] Ronald received a nominees Independent R&B/Soul Artist Performance, at the Soul Train Music Awards.[11] In 2014, Ronald made a cameo appearance in the music video for the Kendrick Lamar song "i".[12]

Including his work on songs recorded by the Isley Brothers and R. Kelly, Isley's singles appeared on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in six straight decades, from the 1950s ("Shout") through the 2000s ("Contagious"). His 2015 appearance on Lamar's "How Much a Dollar Cost" peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart, and his 2021 Isley Brothers track "Friends and Family" failed to hit the main Billboard chart (although it was a Top 50 hit on the R&B and Hip-Hop chart), but do serve to extend his appearances on Billboard charts to eight separate decades.

Ronald Isley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of the Isley Brothers.

Personal life

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Isley married Margaret Tinsley in 1960, and in 1969 their daughter Tia Isley was born. In 1993, he married singer Angela Winbush.[13] They had no children during their marriage. The couple divorced in early 2002.[citation needed]

Isley suffered a mild stroke in London in 2004, which halted an Isley Brothers tour. In September 2005, he married background singer Kandy Johnson of the duo JS/Johnson Sisters.[14] Their son, Ronald Isley, Jr., was born in December 2006.[15][16][17] Isley resided in St. Louis, but now resides in Los Angeles, with his current wife and son.[18]

Tax evasion

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In 2006, Isley was convicted of tax evasion charges. He was to owe the Internal Revenue Service over $3.1 million in back taxes[19] and sentenced to three years and one month in prison.[20] Isley's sentence was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[21][22] Isley was imprisoned at the Federal Correctional Institution at Terre Haute, Indiana, and was scheduled for release on April 13, 2010. He was moved to a half-way house (Dismas House) in St. Louis, following an early departure that October.[23]

Discography

[edit] See also: The Isley Brothers discography Main article: Ronald Isley discography

Academic title

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• Honorary doctorate of music, awarded by the Berklee College of Music,[24] May 7, 2016.

References

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1. ^ Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9780857125958 – via Google Books.
2. ^ Warner, Jay (December 15, 2017). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 9780634099786 – via Google Books.
3. ^ "Ronald Isley | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
4. ^ Muller, Dr Robert (November 6, 2009). "Dr Robert Muller – 1960s Psychedelic Hippie Culture and Music: The Isley Brothers – Success at Its Best".
5. ^ death certificate, Cincinnati, Ohio, Sept. 1954, Reg. No. 3101, Registrar's No. 5292; informant was Sallye Isley
6. ^ a b Wilner, Paul. "Isley Brothers: A Family Affair", The New York Times, March 13, 1977. Accessed September 18, 2011. "WHEN Sallye Isley moved her brood of children from Cincinnati to Englewood in the summer of 1959, she was participating in a show-business phenomenon.... While their older brothers toured America, the younger Isley boys enrolled successively in Englewood Junior High and Dwight Morrow High School.... Right now, the brothers reside near enough to each other to keep in close touch. Ronald lives in Teaneck, Kelly Jr. in Alpine, Rudolph in Haworth and Ernie in Englewood."
7. ^ Chick, Steve (January 7, 2014). "10 of the best: the Isley Brothers". The Guardian. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
8. ^ Roberts, Soraya (November 29, 2010). "Ronald Isley honored at Soul Train Awards 2010, set to release first solo album 'Mr I'". New York Daily News. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
9. ^ Johnson, Kevin (October 21, 2010). "Ron Isley receiving Soul Train Legend Award". stltoday.com. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
10. ^ "Ronald Isley, 'My Favorite Thing': Exclusive Song Premiere". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 12, 2013.
11. ^ "Soul Train Awards Archives". BET.com. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013.
12. ^ Ayers, Mike (November 4, 2014). "Kendrick Lamar Grooves with Ron Isley in His New Video 'i'". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
13. ^ Company, Johnson Publishing (July 19, 1993). "Jet". Johnson Publishing Company – via Google Books. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
14. ^ "Jet: Soul legend Ronald Isley weds singer Kandy Johnson". December 16, 2005. Archived from the original on December 16, 2005.
15. ^ "FindArticles.com – CBSi". findarticles.com.
16. ^ "Home – MediaTakeOut.com". MediaTakeOut.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012.
17. ^ "Singer Ronald Isley gets 3 years in prison - TODAY.com". Today.com. September 12, 2006. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
18. ^ Malone, Chris (April 5, 2021). "Who Is Ron Isley's Wife and What Is Their Age Difference?". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
19. ^ "Isley Brother Gets 3 Years, Will Pay $3M for Tax Evasion". Accounting Today. September 6, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
20. ^ "Singer Ronald Isley gets 3 years in prison". NBCNews.com. September 5, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
21. ^ See United States v. Isley, 2008 Tax Notes Today (Tax Analysts) 29-13, No. 06-50509 (9th Cir. 2008).
22. ^ Court Upholds Isley's Tax Evasion Sentence", February 12, 2008, Billboard.com.
23. ^ Prisoner number 31215-112.
24. ^ The Isley brothers honored at commencement, official site of the Berklee College of Music.

External links

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• Ronald Isley at IMDb

v t e The Isley Brothers
Ernie Isley Ronald Isley Marvin Isley O'Kelly Isley Jr. Rudolph Isley Chris Jasper
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) I'll Be Home for Christmas (2007) Power of Peace (2017) Make Me Say It Again, Girl (2022)
Live albums	Live at Yankee Stadium (1969) The Isleys Live (1973) Live! (1993)
Compilation albums	Timeless (1978)
Singles	"I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door" "Shout (Part 1)" "How Deep Is the Ocean?" "Twist and Shout" "Nobody but Me" "Testify (Part 1)" "Love Is a Wonderful Thing" "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" "I Guess I'll Always Love You" "That's the Way Love Is" "Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)" "Behind a Painted Smile" "Put Yourself in My Place" "It's Your Thing" "I Turned You On" "Keep On Doin'" "Freedom" "Love the One You're With" "Spill the Wine" "Lay Lady Lay" "Lay-Away" "Pop That Thang" "Work to Do" "It's Too Late" "That Lady (Part 1)" "What It Comes Down To" "Summer Breeze" "Live It Up" "Fight the Power (Part 1)" "For the Love of You" "Harvest for the World" "The Pride" "Livin' in the Life" "Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 1)" "Groove with You" "I Wanna Be with You (Part 1)" "It's a Disco Night (Rock Don't Stop)" "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love) (Parts 1 & 2)" "Between the Sheets" "Choosey Lover" "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" "Contagious" "Make Me Say It Again, Girl"
Filmography	It's Your Thing (1970)
See also	Discography T-Neck Records Isley-Jasper-Isley
Category:The Isley Brothers Portal:Rhythm and blues

Awards for Ronald Isley

v t e Grammy Award for Best Rap Song Awarded to songwriters 2000s "Lose Yourself" – Jeff Bass, Eminem & Luis Resto (2004) "Jesus Walks" – Miri Ben-Ari, Che Smith & Kanye West (2005) "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" – Devon Harris & Kanye West (2006) "Money Maker" – Ludacris and Pharrell Williams (2007) "Good Life – Aldrin Davis, Faheem Najm & Kanye West (2008) "Lollipop" – Dwayne Carter, Stephen Garrett, Darius Harrison, Jim Jonsin & Rex Zamor (2009) 2010s "Run This Town" – Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Makeba Riddick, Kanye West & Ernest Wilson (2010) "Empire State of Mind" – Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh (2011) "All of the Lights" – Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West (2012) "Niggas in Paris" – Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West (2013) "Thrift Shop" – Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis (2014) "I" – Kendrick Duckworth, Columbus Smith & Ronald Isley (2015) "Alright" – Kendrick Duckworth, Kawan Prather, Mark Spears & Pharrell Williams (2016) "Hotline Bling" – Aubrey Graham & Paul Jefferies (2017) "Humble" – Kendrick Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & Michael Williams II (2018) "God's Plan" – Aubrey Graham, Ronald LaTour, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib (2019) 2020s "A Lot" – Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage & Anthony White (2020) "Savage" – Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Sessions Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White (2021) "Jail" – Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West & Mark Williams (2022) "The Heart Part 5" – Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Duckworth & Matt Schaeffer (2023) "Scientists & Engineers" – Andre Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Michael Render, Tim Moore & Dion Wilson (2024) "Not Like Us" – Kendrick Duckworth (2025) "TV Off" – Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Mark Anthony Spears & Kamasi Washington (2026) v t e Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Class of 1992 Performers Bobby Bland Booker T. & the M.G.'s Steve Cropper, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Al Jackson Jr., Booker T. Jones, Lewie Steinberg Johnny Cash The Isley Brothers Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr., Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley, Chris Jasper The Jimi Hendrix Experience Jimi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding Sam & Dave Sam Moore, Dave Prater The Yardbirds Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Jimmy Page, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith Early influences Elmore James Professor Longhair Non-performers(Ahmet Ertegun Award) Leo Fender Bill Graham Doc Pomus

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Artists	MusicBrainz Grammy Awards
People	Deutsche Biographie
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