The Isley Brothers - 10 Fun Facts

They started as a gospel group in the 1950s – Originally from Cincinnati, the three older brothers, O’Kelly, Rudy, and Ronald, first sang gospel before transitioning to doo-wop and R&B.
Their first hit was “Shout” in 1959 – It wasn’t a chart-topper at the time, but it became a party anthem and was later covered by countless artists (and made iconic in Animal House).
They helped launch Jimi Hendrix’s career – Hendrix toured with them in the mid-1960s and played on tracks like Testify—adding raw psychedelic flair.
“Twist and Shout” was an Isley song first – They released it before The Beatles, who later covered it in 1963.
They shifted styles constantly – The Isleys moved from doo-wop to funk, soul, rock, and even quiet storm ballads, reinventing themselves with each decade.
Ernie Isley learned to play guitar from Jimi Hendrix – His searing solos on That Lady and Summer Breeze were Hendrix-inspired, adding rock edge to their soul sound.
They formed their own label: T-Neck Records – Frustrated with major labels, the Isleys created T-Neck to control their music and signed themselves as their first act.
“It’s Your Thing” won a Grammy – The funky, rebellious single was a direct result of their creative freedom and sold over a million copies.
They inspired hip-hop sampling for decades – Artists from Ice Cube to The Notorious B.I.G., Kendrick Lamar, and A Tribe Called Quest sampled their grooves.
They were the first group to chart in six different decades – From the '50s through the 2000s, the Isleys had hits in every era.