The Isley Brothers founder Rudolph Isley has died.
He was 84.
According to TMZ, the musician passed away on Oct. 11 in Illinois.
His cause of death has yet to be determined, although a source told the outlet that he possibly suffered a heart attack.
Rudolph and his brothers Ronald, 82, and O’Kelly formed the R&B group in the late 1950s and enjoyed massive success with tunes such as “Twist & Shout,” “This Old Heart of Mine” and “It’s Your Thing.”
By 1971, the group grew to include their younger brothers Ernie and Marvin, as well as Rudolph’s brother-in-law Chris Jasper.
Rudolph departed the band in 1989 to become a pastor. However, he has appeared alongside his old troupe over the years.
After Rudolph’s exit, the group released songs like “Busted” and “Contagious.”
The singers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and were given the honor by icon Little Richard.
The Isley Brothers’ influence has spanned generations, with rappers like Ice Cube and the Notorious B.I.G. sampling their music.
He had spent much of his early life singing gospel music in church back home in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rudolph married Elaine Jasper in 1958 and they had four children together.
Earlier this year, Rudolph sued Ronald, claiming that Ronald registered the Isley Brothers trademark behind his back.
In court documents obtained by TMZ, Rudolph alleged that his brother cost him money and made business deals without his knowledge.
In the lawsuit, Rudolph stated that he and Ronald came to an agreement to evenly split the band’s profits after the death of O’Kelly, who passed away from a heart attack in 1986.
The docs claim that Ronald had violated this agreement and took the use of the band’s name for “visual recordings and audiovisual recordings featuring music and animation.”
Rudolph had wanted to be paid back for half of the earnings and requested that the judge reinstate his 50% share in the band’s revenue.
