Jasper helped write several of the Isley Brothers’ top hits

He became known for his “powerful music that blended his classical training with R&B, funk, and soul,” per the family’s statement. Jasper made music with Ernie and Marvin Isley and toured with the older Isley brothers, penning several songs for the popular R&B/Funk band, including the 1972 track “Love Put Me on a Corner,” per EW.

The following year, Jasper, Marvin and Ernie joined the existing Isley Brothers band, transitioning from a vocal trio into a self-contained six-member R&B/Funk group. During his time in the group, Jasper helped write, produce and arrange several of the Isley Brothers’ most top-charting hits, including “For the Love of You,” “Between the Sheets,” and “Fight the Power.”

Although the Isley Brothers disbanded in 1984, Jasper pursued other ambitions. He formed the trio Isley-Jasper-Isley with the younger Isley Brothers, Marvin and Ernie, whom he had worked with in his early years. They gained international fame and became popular with their 1985 classic “Caravan of Love,” a message about “peace and love resonating around the world and later covered by various artists,” according to the family’s statement.

The Isley Brothers

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