Chris Jasper facts for kids

Christopher Howard Jasper (born December 30, 1951 – died February 23, 2025) was an American singer, songwriter, and music producer. He was a key member of the famous music group The Isley Brothers from 1973 to 1983. Later, he was part of the trio Isley-Jasper-Isley from 1984 to 1987. Chris Jasper also had a very successful solo career, releasing over 17 of his own albums. He wrote, produced, and performed all the music on these albums himself.

He also helped other artists by producing their music for his own record company, Gold City Records, based in New York City. Chris Jasper was known for his amazing keyboard and Moog synthesizer skills. These sounds became a special part of The Isley Brothers' music in the 1970s and 1980s. During that time, The Isley Brothers were a band that wrote and played their own music.

Early Life and Music Journey

Chris Jasper was born on December 30, 1951. He was trained in classical music from a young age. His mother, Elizabeth, suggested he start studying classical music when he was seven years old. After finishing high school in Cincinnati, he moved to New York. There, he studied music composition at the Juilliard School of Music, a very famous music school.

He continued his studies at C.W. Post, Long Island University. He learned from the well-known jazz pianist and composer Billy Taylor. Chris Jasper earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in music composition. He later also graduated from Concord University School of Law.

Joining The Isley Brothers

The Jasper and Isley families lived in the same apartment building in Cincinnati. Chris Jasper's older sister, Elaine, married Rudolph Isley. The three older Isley brothers, Rudolph, Ronald, and O'Kelly, had a vocal group and moved to Teaneck, New Jersey. When Chris Jasper was a teenager living in Teaneck, he formed a band called "The Jazzman Trio." He played keyboards, Ernie Isley played drums, and Marvin Isley played bass.

This band played at local events in New Jersey. Chris, Marvin, and Ernie also went to C.W. Post College in New York. While still in college, they toured with the older Isley Brothers. They also played on some of their early recordings. For example, Ernie played bass guitar on the hit song "It's Your Thing." Chris Jasper wrote many songs for The Isley Brothers. His first song for them was "Love Put Me on a Corner," released in 1972.

In 1973, Chris, Marvin, and Ernie brought new songwriting and musical ideas to the group. This changed The Isley Brothers into a six-member R&B/Funk band that produced their own music. Their first album as a six-member group was called 3+3.

Chris Jasper helped write, produce, and arrange The Isley Brothers' music from 1973 to 1983. He made important contributions along with Ernie and Marvin. The older brothers, Kelly, Rudolph, and Ronald Isley, also made foundational contributions. Their last album as a six-member group was Between The Sheets, with the title song written by Ernie.

Isley-Jasper-Isley and Solo Career

In 1984, the six-member group split up. Chris Jasper, Marvin Isley, and Ernie Isley decided to stay with CBS Records. They formed a new trio called "Isley-Jasper-Isley." The older Isley brothers left the label.

Isley-Jasper-Isley was a trio that wrote and produced their own music. Chris Jasper was the lead singer and continued to write, produce, and arrange songs. The trio released three albums with CBS Records. Chris Jasper wrote and sang lead on their biggest hit song, "Caravan of Love." This song was later covered by the British band The Housemartins and became a number one international hit.

In 1987, Isley-Jasper-Isley broke up. Chris Jasper continued his career as a solo artist. He released two albums on his own label, Gold City Records, which was connected to CBS. One of his songs, "Superbad," became a #1 R&B hit in 1988. This song talked about how important education is. Chris Jasper continued to focus on this message in many of his songs after leaving the Isleys.

In 1989, Chris Jasper wrote, produced, and performed the song "Make It Last" for Chaka Khan's album CK. In total, Chris Jasper released 16 solo albums. Four of these were urban contemporary gospel albums.

His January 2013 album, Inspired: By Love, By Life, By The Spirit, was a collection of love songs, social songs, and spiritual tracks. In May 2014, he released The One. This album reminded listeners of the soulful R&B and funk music he wrote for the Isleys.

In 2016, he released Share With Me. This album included a cover of the Billy Preston hit, "You Are So Beautiful." It also had a song called "America," which was a tribute to the nation. In April 2018, Chris Jasper released two songs, "The Love That You Give" and "It's a Miracle." These were from his 15th solo CD, Dance With You. In 2019, he released a "covers" album called "For The Love Of You." It included his versions of songs he helped create with The Isley Brothers. It also featured well-known R&B and pop classics.

Chris Jasper continued to write, record, and perform all the music on his solo albums. He also produced artists for his Gold City label. These artists included Liz Hogue, Out Front, and Brothaz By Choice. In 2015, working with Sony Music, Chris Jasper released Essential Chris Jasper. This album included all the songs where he sang lead during the Isley-Jasper-Isley years and his solo career with CBS/Sony Music.

Awards and Recognition

Chris Jasper's music with The Isley Brothers has been covered and used by many different artists. He received many gold and platinum albums, which means his music sold millions of copies. He also won many music industry awards.

As a member of The Isley Brothers, Chris Jasper was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. This is a very high honor in music. In January 2014, Chris Jasper and The Isley Brothers received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015, he received the German Record Critics Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 2016, Chris Jasper was given the National R&B Society Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, he received the Soultracks Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2022, as a member of The Isley Brothers, Chris Jasper was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Personal Life and Passing

Chris Jasper lived in New York with his wife, Margie Jasper. They were married for 42 years. Margie Jasper is a lawyer and author based in New York.

Chris Jasper passed away on February 23, 2025. He was 73 years old. He had been diagnosed with cancer two months before his passing.

Discography

Isley Brothers years

• 3+3 (CBS) 1973
• Live It Up (CBS) 1974
• The Heat Is On (CBS) 1975
• Harvest for the World (CBS) 1976
• Go for Your Guns (CBS) 1977
• Showdown (CBS) 1978
• Winner Takes All (CBS) 1979
• Go All the Way (CBS) 1980
• Grand Slam (CBS) 1981
• Inside You (CBS) 1981
• The Real Deal (CBS) 1982
• Between the Sheets (CBS) 1983

Isley-Jasper-Isley years

• Broadway's Closer to Sunset Blvd (CBS) 1984
• Caravan of Love (CBS) 1985
• Different Drummer (CBS) 1986

Solo career

• Superbad (Gold City/CBS Associated) 1988
• Time Bomb (Gold City/CBS Associated) 1989
• Praise the Eternal (Gold City) 1992
• Deep Inside (Gold City) 1994
• Faithful & True (Gold City) 2002
• Amazing Love (Gold City) 2005
• Invincible (Gold City) 2007
• Everything I Do (Gold City) 2010
• Inspired...By Love, By Life, By The Spirit (Gold City) 2013
• The One (Gold City) (2014)
• Thank You Jesus (Gold City) (2015)
• Share With Me (Gold City) (2016)
• Happy Birthday Love (Gold City) (2017)
• Dance with You (Gold City) (2018)
• For The Love Of You (Gold City) (2020)
• Raise The Bar (Gold City) (2022)
• It Started With a Kiss (Gold City) (2023)

Production credits

• Vicious & Fresh (Liz Hogue) (Gold City/CBS) (1989)
• Out Front (Out Front) (Gold City) (1995)
• Brotha 2 Brotha (Brothaz By Choice) (Gold City) (1998)
• "Make It Last" (on Chaka Khan's ck album) (WB) (1989)
• Addictive (Michael Jasper) (Gold City) (2010)
• Make It (Michael Jasper) (Gold City) (2016)

See also

• List of Moog synthesizer players
• List of show business families