Marvin Isley RIP

August 18, 1953 – June 6, 2010

Marvin was the bass player and the youngest members of the family music group, The Isley Brothers

In the late-1960s, he formed a trio with older brother Ernie and brother-in-law Chris Jasper. By the end of the decade, the group joined the singing older half of the Isleys as its instrumentalists.

The instrumental lineup became official band members to the Isleys in 1973, resulting in platinum record success with the band’s 3+3 album. For the next ten years, Marvin Isley played bass guitar on tracks including “Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)”, “I Wanna be With You (Part 1)”, “The Pride, Pt. 1 & 2”, “Don’t Say Goodnight (It’s Time for Love)”, “For the Love of You (Part 1 & 2)”, “Voyage to Atlantis”, and “Between the Sheets”.

The 3+3 lineup splintered into two groups in 1984, with the original Isleys carrying on as the Isley Brothers; while Marvin, Ernie and Chris formed Isley-Jasper-Isley. The group released three albums and had a US number one R&B hit single, “Caravan of Love”.

In 1991, Marvin Isley returned as member of the Isley Brothers with Ronald and Ernie and carried on until 1997, when Marvin developed diabetes. He had both legs removed. Marvin was inducted along with his brothers to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Marvin Isley died on June 6, 2010, from complication of diabetes at the Seasons Hospice within Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 56.