Ernie Isley

Ernie Isley (born on March 7, 1952 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) is currently a member of the legendary family music group, The Isley Brothers, a legendary rock guitarist and drummer and was important to the Isley's development from one of the pioneering R&B groups of the day to being possibly the first African-American rock and roll band.

Ernie grew up at the time where his older brothers Rudolph, O'Kelly and Ronald were making waves during the group's original rise to fame in the 1950s and 1960s. He took up playing drums and after hearing Jose Felicano's version of "Light My Fire" in 1968, took up guitar.

In 1969, seventeen-year-old Isley had formed a band with baby brother Marvin (who was the bass player) and family friend and future brother-in-law Chris Jasper (the band's keyboardist). The older brothers eventually put Ernie, Marvin and Chris into their group as the Isleys were now venturing into funk and rock territory. Slowly but surely, the younger brothers started to get noticed for their talents and in 1973, the older brothers announced that Ernie, Marvin and Chris were now officially the new members of the Isley Brothers. In turn, the legendary group had now become a band and a totally new artist altogether. It was then that the band started to call themselves "3+3" (the three vocalists - Ronald, Rudolph and O'Kelly - and the three instrumentalists - Ernie, Marvin and Chris).

In 1973, Ernie's searing guitar solo in the group's big hit "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2" and their modest follow-up, the cover to Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze" got Ernie more noticeable. His guitar solos in other Isley songs including "Live It Up", "Voyage to Atlantis" and "Ballad for the Fallen Soldier" were equally memorable. Eventually, however, the younger half of the Isleys felt that their stay at the group was overwelcomed and they left to form the splinter group, Isley-Jasper-Isley, in 1985. That lineup scored just one hit, the R&B monster hit, "Caravan of Love". The group split up in 1987 and Ernie started his own solo career.

In 1991, Ernie returned as member of the Isley Brothers with Marvin and Ronald and he still continues to be a member today often touring with Ronald. His guitar solos in current Isley songs like "Floatin On Your Love", "Tears", and "Take a Ride" are equally as memorable as anything the Isleys recorded during the heyday of the 3+3 days. Ernie was inducted with the rest of the Isleys (including former brother-in-law Chris) to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.