Entertainment
Isley Says Inspiration Hit Him in Prison Stint
Veteran Singer Releases First Solo Album Since ‘03
Chronicle News Services
NEW YORK--For half a century, Ronald Isley Sr.’s crystalline voice has spurred millions to shout, twist, groove, fight the power and, above all, make babies between the sheets.
But it wasn’t until the leader of the Isley Brothers wound up in federal prison that he discovered another purpose for his “gift from God.”
Mr. Isley, now 69, had been convicted on tax charges in 2006 and sentenced to 37 months.
While incarcerated, he plotted a solo album, which became “Mr. I,” released last week.
More importantly, he kept his voice in shape by leading gospel services and a Christmas show.
“People looked up to me, and I taught them things they didn’t know about,” he said. “The shows I did there were the best of my life.
“People were crying, it was me crying, the audience was crying. I couldn’t believe how much love was there. I will never forget that.”
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, who burst out of Cincinnati and onto the national scene in 1959 singing “Shout” with brothers O’Kelly Isley and Rudolph Isley, hopes his audience hasn’t forgotten him.
“Mr. I” is his first solo album since 2003 and his first appearance on an R&B album since 2006’s “Baby Making Music,” which was recorded under the Isley Brothers name with younger sibling Ernie Isley and hit No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop album chart.
This time he enlisted all-star producers, including Greg Curtis, Sound Dynasty, Kajun and Tricky Stewart.
Among guests singing with him are Aretha Franklin (“We’ve been knowing each other since 1962”), Lauryn Hill and T.I.
“I knew I would have a lot of pressure,” he said.
His first single, “No More,” got off to a modest start, selling 6,000 digital downloads since its October release, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
It peaked at No. 18 on Billboard’s adult R&B chart.
Still, that voice has built up a lot of goodwill over the decades, and subsequent singles are likely to find an audience, said Gail Mitchell, Billboard senior editor for R&B/hip-hop.
“It all goes back to the songs. You’ve got strong songs, and [Isley’s] is one of the most distinctive voices in R&B history.
“He should do fine. There is an older adult market out there not being served” by contemporary radio.”
Mr. Isley said he is putting a tour together, but for now, he’s spending time with his wife, Kandy Johnson, and son, Ronald Isley Jr., who was 8 months-old when his father went to prison.
“He is my strength,” Mr. Isley said. “He’s a singer now….all the songs from the Disney programs. I was like that when I was young. It’s like seeing myself all over again.”
Mr. Isley, who is one of the most-sampled voices in hip-hop history, hopes that a track from “Mr. I” or from a future release will extend his distinction of having had a pop or R&B hit in every decade since the ‘50’s.
“That would be great,” he said. “I watched Sinatra, and he was doing it all the way up until his end. I’m going to do it until the Lord comes back.”
