O'Kelly Isley Jr. facts for kids

O'Kelly "Kelly" Isley Jr. (December 25, 1937 – March 31, 1986) was an American singer. He was one of the founding members of the famous family music group, The Isley Brothers.

The Life of O'Kelly Isley Jr.

Early Musical Journey

Kelly Isley was the oldest of the Isley Brothers. He began singing with his brothers at church when he was young. When he was 16, he and his three younger brothers — Rudy, Ronnie, and Vernon — formed a group called The Isley Brothers. They started by touring the gospel music circuit, performing spiritual songs.

Sadly, Vernon passed away in a road accident. After this, the remaining brothers decided to try a new style of music called doo-wop. They moved to New York City to find a record deal. Between 1957 and 1959, they recorded songs for smaller labels like Teenage and Mark X. In 1959, a talent scout saw their energetic live show and they signed with RCA Records.

Rising to Stardom with The Isley Brothers

O'Kelly and his brothers helped write their first big hit song, "Shout". The original version reached the top 50 on the music charts. However, later versions of the song became even more popular, selling over a million copies!

The brothers later moved to other record labels, including Scepter and Motown. They had more hits like "Twist & Shout" in 1962 and "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)". Around 1959, the Isley family moved to Englewood, New Jersey. Kelly lived there with his mother and younger siblings.

Starting Their Own Record Label

In 1969, the Isley Brothers left Motown and started their very own record label called T-Neck Records. This allowed them to write and produce most of their own music, including their huge hit "It's Your Thing".

Kelly and his brother Rudy began singing lead parts on some of the group's albums, starting with It's Our Thing in 1969. A song called "Black Berries" from their album The Brothers: Isley was dedicated to Kelly. His brother Ron often quoted Kelly saying, "the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice." This saying originally came from a 1929 novel by Harlem Renaissance writer Wallace Thurman.

Later, Kelly's younger brothers Ernie and Marvin, and their brother-in-law Chris Jasper, joined the band. Kelly, Rudy, and Ron didn't write as many songs themselves after this. However, they still shared in the songwriting credits because they owned the rights to the songs.

Kelly's Style and Legacy

During the 1970s, when the Isley Brothers were very popular, Kelly Isley was often seen wearing a cowboy hat and Western-style clothes. His brother Ernie shared that it was Kelly who discovered a talented guitarist named Jimi Hendrix. Kelly heard about Hendrix's skills, helped him get a job playing with the Isley Brothers' band, and even let him live in his mother's house.

In 1985, the brothers released the album Masterpiece. On this album, Kelly sings most of the lead vocals on the song "If Leaving Me Is Easy", with Ron singing backup. Kelly's last performance as a member of the Isley Brothers was in 1986 on the song "Good Hands" from the Wildcats movie soundtrack.

Later Years and Passing

Kelly's health declined, and he lost weight, which was noticeable on the cover of the Masterpiece album. On March 31, 1986, O'Kelly Isley passed away suddenly from a heart attack at age 48. He was at his home in Alpine, New Jersey. He left behind two sons, Frank and Doug. Kelly is buried in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

The Isley Brothers' next album after Kelly's death, Smooth Sailin', was dedicated to him. It included a tribute song called "Send A Message". In 1992, Kelly Isley was honored after his death by being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Isley Brothers.