RIP Marvin Isley

[Woodchuck]

Another funk bass pioneer has moved on. He will be missed.

Marvin Isley (August 18, 1953- June 6, 2010) was one of the members of the family music group, The Isley Brothers and a seminal bass guitarist. Marvin grew up in Englewood, New Jersey and graduated from Dwight Morrow High School in 1972.

In the late-1960s, he formed a trio with older brother Ernie and brother-in-law Chris Jasper. By the end of the decade, the group joined the older half of the Isleys as its instrumentalists.

The instrumental lineup became official band members to the Isleys in 1973 resulting in platinum success with the band's rock-infused 3+3 album. For the next ten years, Marvin laid down the bass work for some of the band's funkiest jams and sentimental ballads including Fight the Power, I Wanna Be With You, The Pride, Don't Say Goodnight, For the Love of You, Voyage to Atlantis, and Between the Sheets.

The 3+3 lineup splintered into two groups in 1984 with the original Isleys carrying on as the Isley Brothers while Marvin, Ernie and Chris formed Isley-Jasper-Isley. The group released three albums and had a number one hit with the R&B hit, "Caravan of Love".

In 1991, Marvin returned as member of the Isley Brothers with Ronald and Ernie and carried on until 1997 when Marvin developed diabetes. He had both legs removed. He is currently resting and recuperating and living in Oak Park, Illinois while brothers Ronald and Ernie continued on as the Isley Brothers. Marvin was inducted along with his brothers to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

 

[Hoover]

bummer. Back in the 80's my funk band used to cover "Fight The Power", smokin' tune.

 

[JimK]

Woodchuck posted-
"The instrumental lineup became official band members to the Isleys in 1973 resulting in platinum success with the band's rock-infused 3+3 album".

...one of the great albums of that time. "Summer Breeze" is a masterpiece of Pop-R&B.

RIP.

 

[markjazzbassist]

RIP, i loved his playing and the Isley's in general.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

RIP. The Isley Brothers were the most under the radar supergroup of all time. They must have had at least four platinum albums in a row back in the Seventies. They were also a heck of a live act too. I know for a fact that the Graham Central Station/Isley Brothers bill was the loudest concert I ever heard at the time!

Both Marvin Isley and Larry Graham were playing Alembics for that show in 1977.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Definitely one of the unsung pioneers and contributors of modern black music. And a powerful,versatile and focused bassist.


He was also one one the earlier bassist to play Alembics live and in the studio.

 

[JimmyM]

that's a shame...a guy so young getting diabetes and losing both legs before he's 50, then dying before he even turns 60. great player. fight the power is a big reference point for me because it was one of the first angry funk songs. before that, the lyrics in funk tunes were pretty innocuous except for gil scott heron. but fight the power was ANGRY! and i dug the hell out of it.

 

[kesslari]

Yep. Back in the day, the Isleys got their message across with a mighty groove. Still remember rocking out to those songs when I was a kid.
RIP Marvin.

 

[Woodchuck]

that's a shame...a guy so young getting diabetes and losing both legs before he's 50, then dying before he even turns 60. great player. fight the power is a big reference point for me because it was one of the first angry funk songs. before that, the lyrics in funk tunes were pretty innocuous except for gil scott heron. but fight the power was ANGRY! and i dug the hell out of it.

You may want to revisit some of those Parliament/Funkadelic songs.

 

[FilterFunk]

In a lot of those '70s songs, the Isleys were bad enough to throw down without horns, which was a rarity in R&B/funk. And how many groups in modern music history, in any genre, have had such longevity?

RIP Marvin.

 

[bassbrad]

You may want to revisit some of those Parliament/Funkadelic songs.

The work of The Isleys, Gil Scott Heron and Curtis Mayfield were what pushed GC the direction of Parliament/Funkadelic.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

RIP.
I'm a huge Isley Bros fan.
Awesome groove bassist.

 

[Woodchuck]

The work of The Isleys, Gil Scott Heron and Curtis Mayfield were what pushed GC the direction of Parliament/Funkadelic.

Before Parliament was put together, Funkadelic was a hugely political and protestant band.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Before Parliament was put together, Funkadelic was a hugely political and protestant band.

Yes they were.

 

[Jim Campbell]

that's a shame...a guy so young getting diabetes and losing both legs before he's 50, then dying before he even turns 60. great player. fight the power is a big reference point for me because it was one of the first angry funk songs. before that, the lyrics in funk tunes were pretty innocuous except for gil scott heron. but fight the power was ANGRY! and i dug the hell out of it.

check out war's all day music and the world is a ghetto....stuff like slippin into darkness.....

 

[DougD]

Oh man, the Isley bro's are one of my favorite groups. I was staioned in Germany with a member of their family. Cool people as far as I can remember. He will be missed.

 

[Hoover]

Funkadelic was a hugely political and protestant band.

LOL! Cool word...I think that's what J. Neil Schulman would term a "sillygism"



I just remembered we used to also cover the Isley Bros "Livin' In The Life". Yeah, "angry funk" is right. Powerful stuff.

 

[scatman]

Footsteps in the Dark is straight pocket!

 

[jumbosilverette]

Sorry to hear about Marvin. Isley's are top drawer; even their ballad remakes smoke.

 

[jerry]

Marvin's grooves are still in some of the setlists I gig with, great player from a great band of Jersey cats.
Fly on Marvin...............