Rudolph Isley, one of the founding members of The Isley Brothers, has died at 84 years old. The cause of death has not been released at this time.

“There are no words to express my feelings and the love I have for my brother,” his brother Ronald said in a statement to Billboard. “Our family will miss him. But I know he’s in a better place.”

Formed in 1954, The Isley Brothers consisted of Rudolph and his siblings Ronald, O’Kelly and Vernon in the beginning stages. The brothers regularly performed at their church in Cincinnati. They halted their music careers, though, after Vernon, who was the group’s lead singer, was fatally struck by a car at just 13 years old.

In 1957, the surviving brothers rebranded with Ronnie as the new frontman. Together, they headed to New York City, which eventually led to their first deal with RCA Records in 1959.

Ronald Isley

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