Legendary Guitar Bassist of Isley Brothers Group Dead at 56

"Another precious stone has been removed from our legendary musical building block."

Bootsy Collins on the death of friend and fellow musician Marvin Isley

By Alicia Cruz

The Black Urban Times

Marvin Isley, the bass guitarist and instrumentalist for the legendary Isley Brothers singing group died Sunday from complications with diabetes at the Seasons Hospice at Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. He was 56.

Family music group the Isley Brothers debuted on the music scene during the 70s funk era. Isley, a native of Englewood, graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in 1972. He and older brother Ernie formed a musical trio during the late 1960s that included brother-in-law Chris Jasper.

Later, the trio joined forces with the older half of the Isleys as instrumentalists becoming an official part of the band in 1973. The formation shifted the groups’ sound from horn-fueled soul to a guitar-driven rock that culminated in platinum record selling success with the band's 3+3 album when Isley was a mere 20-years-old.

Isley's talent on the bass guitar and collaboration with his brothers brought us hits like "Fight the Power (Part 1 & 2)", "I Wanna be With You (Part 1)", "The Pride, Pt. 1 & 2", "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time for Love)", "For the Love of You (Part 1 & 2)", "Voyage to Atlantis", and 1983's sexy R&B hit, "Between the Sheets".

In 1984, Isley, brother Ernie and Jasper left the Isley Brothers group to form Isley-Jasper-Isley. The trio scored a major hit their first year with "Caravan of Love," which was co-written by all three members. It was the groups biggest hit topping the American R&B chart for three weeks.

When asked about the making of "Caravan of Love," co-member Jasper explained in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh: "I had been looking at the world scene quite a bit and I wasn't pleased with what I was seeing. I just felt that we all needed a positive message. I had the melody in my head for about 4 months before I put pen to paper. When I did, I wrote the song in 20 minutes and those lyrics just poured out."

Isley returned to the Isley Brothers in 1991, but his reunion with the family was short lived due to his declining health issues related to diabetes, which resulted in the talented musician having to undergo a tragic double leg amputation.

Friend and fellow musician Bootsy Collins told Rolling Stone magazine that Isley was a "classic player, a classic act." The funk legend remembered his friend as a "smooth, humble guy — but when he had something to say on the bass, he would say it."

"Another precious stone has been removed from our legendary musical building block," said Collins. "He's part of the American soul foundation."

The Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

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