The Isley Brothers legend Chris Jasper dies aged 73

Singer and musician Chris Jasper has died at 73 years old (Picture: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

Chris Jasper, the singer-songwriter who helped make the Isley Brothers into a musical phenomenon, has died at the age of 73. 

His death was confirmed to Metro by his former rep Eric Baker, managing director of music at Primary Wave Entertainment, who said: ‘Chris’s passing is a horrible loss for music and the Isleys.’ 

The news was also announced by Jasper’s family on Facebook on Monday, revealing that he had died on Sunday, February 23 and had been diagnosed with cancer late last year. 

The post reads: ‘Born on December 30, 1951, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Chris was a classically trained musician and composer. Chris’s musical journey began at the age of seven when he started studying classical piano. He would later study music composition at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City and earn his Bachelor of Fine Arts in music composition with esteemed jazz pianist and composer Billy Taylor.

‘Chris’s classical training laid the foundation for his powerful music that blended his classical training with R&B, funk, and soul.’ 

The tribute continues, describing the pivotal role Chris played in shaping The Isley Brothers. 

‘In 1973, Chris, alongside Ernie and Marvin Isley, transformed The Isley Brothers from a vocal trio into a self-contained six member R&B/Funk group. His songwriting talent and expertise on keyboards and synthesizers became the cornerstone of the group’s signature sound. Chris was instrumental in writing, arranging, and producing numerous hits, including classics like “For the Love of You,” “Between the Sheets,” and “Fight the Power.”’ 

Chris was a multi-instrumentalist and talented producer (Picture: Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

Remembered as a stalwart of the R&B scene throughout the 70s and 80s, Chris was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 alongside The other members of the Isley Brothers. 

The Isley Brothers originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, began as a vocal trio consisting of the brothers O’Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley, and Ronald Isley in the 1950s.

They first gained acclaim in 1959 with their fourth single, Shout, written by the three brothers, which became their first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and sold over a million copies. In the 1960s, the groups had huge hits like Twist and Shout and the Motown single This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You), as well as the Grammy Award-winning hit It’s Your Thing.

But it wasn’t until the group expanded in 1973, including younger brothers Ernie Isley (lead guitar, drums) and Marvin Isley (bass guitar), as well as, and perhaps most pivotally, Rudolph’s brother-in-law Chris Jasper, that they reached legendary status.

Over the course of the next ten years, the group was seemingly unstoppable, releasing hit album after hit album, including 3 + 3, Between the Sheets, and The Heat Is On, with the latter peaking at number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 1983 the group split up, with Ernie, Marvin, and Chris Jasper formingIsley-Jasper-Isley, which went on to have continued success.

The Isley Brothers were comprised of (from L to R) O’Kelly Isley, Ernie Isley, Chris Jasper, Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley and Marvin Isley at the height of their fame (Picture: Michael Ochs Archives)

The Isley Brothers are among the few groups ever to have hit the Billboard Hot 100 with new music in six different decades and the only act in musical history to have achieved this accomplishment in consecutive decades.

Unbelievably, sixteen of the group’s albums charted in the Top 40 and thirteen of those albums have been certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum by the RIAA.

Jasper was also honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 and in 2022 was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

‘He will be deeply missed and his legacy will live on as an inspiration for generations,’ the statement concluded, with a sign off from ‘His Loving Family.’ 

Chris joined the Isley Brothers in 1973 and helped them rise to superstardom (Picture: GAB Archive/Redferns)

A musical prodigy with perfect pitch, Jasper was also a successful solo musician and record producer who was extremely prolific throughout his career, recording 17 of his own solo albums. He wrote, produced, and performed – vocally and instrumentally – all of these albums.  

Jasper founded Gold City Records in 1987, which produced his own work and the work of other notable R&B artists. 

He is survived by Margie Jasper, his wife of 42 years, and their sons: Michael, Nicholas, and Christoper.

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