Rudolph Isley, the brother of the Isley Brothers and one of the founding members of the legendary group, has passed away.
On Thursday, TMZ broke the news that the 84-year-old died in Illinois. It’s unknown what led to his death, though some sources speculate that it was a heart attack. Rudolph had not been regularly involved with the group since 1989 and had instead left to become a minister. However, he’d randomly pop in and out to perform and record with his brothers throughout the years, though recently, their relationship had seemingly soured.
In March 2023, he sued Ronald Isley for registering the group trademark under his name alone, despite Rudolph playing a significant role in launching the band in the 1950s. In his court filing, Rudolph claimed Ronald improperly registering the trademark would exclude him from opportunities and earnings from the group. For at least the past decade, only Ronald and Ernie Isley have been active members, operating as a duo. Last month, a federal judge ruled that he would not be dismissing Rudolph’s lawsuit, meaning a lengthy court battle was likely.
Ronald shared a message on Instagram Wednesday, letting fans know that he would be postponing an upcoming event shortly after news broke of his brother’s passing.
Rest in peace, Rudolph.
