walking upstream…
Isley Brothers
Formed in Cincinnati in 1954 by brothers O'Kelly Jr., Rudolph, and Ronald Isley, the group started out singing gospel before chasing the R&B stars of the day into secular music, breaking through in 1959 with the self-written call-and-response classic 'Shout.' Over seven decades and multiple reinventions — 1960s singles for Motown, their own T-Neck Records funk-rock of the 1970s after younger brother Ernie joined on guitar in 1973, and 1980s-90s quiet-storm R&B — Ronald Isley's tenor lead carried the group through changing eras. They remain active into the 2020s as one of the longest-running acts in American popular music.
the sound in question
1969
It's Your ThingIsley Brothers
walk the tributaries ↓
Jackie Wilson1950s–60s · R&B / Soul / Doo-wop
The group built their signature call-and-response showstopper 'Shout' directly out of a live cover of Jackie Wilson's 'Lonely Teardrops' — at a 1958 Philadelphia gig, Ronald Isley began ad-libbing the 'you know you make me wanna...Shout!' break after the crowd wouldn't stop cheering for Wilson's song, and the routine became their own record a year later.
listen: upstream & heresource: Wikipedia — 'Shout' (Isley Brothers song), origin from covering Jackie Wilson's 'Lonely Teardrops' ↗
1958
Lonely TeardropsJackie Wilson
1959
Shout, Pts. 1 & 2Isley Brothers
listen forPlay Wilson's soaring, gospel-charged 'Lonely Teardrops' next to the Isleys' 'Shout' — listen for the same held-note-into-shout vocal leap and call-and-response structure, just stretched out here into a full audience-participation anthem.
Sam Cooke1960s · Soul / R&B / Gospel
Asked directly about his musical influences, Ronald Isley named Sam Cooke among the handful of singers who shaped him; the smooth, gospel-trained croon Cooke brought into secular pop is the clearest ancestor of the tender tenor Ronald leads on the Isleys' 1960s ballads.
listen: upstream & here
1957
You Send MeSam Cooke
1966
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)Isley Brothers
listen forCue Cooke's 'You Send Me' against the Isleys' 'This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)' — listen for the same unhurried, warm-toned pleading delivery riding a light, string-and-doo-wop-backed groove.
Clyde McPhatter1950s · R&B / Doo-wop / Gospel
Ronald Isley named Clyde McPhatter (lead of Billy Ward's Dominoes, then the Drifters) among his formative influences; McPhatter's soaring, gospel-trained lead-tenor style set an early template over group harmonies that the Isleys chased on their own uptempo numbers.
listen: upstream & here
1958
A Lover's QuestionClyde McPhatter
1962
Twist and ShoutIsley Brothers
listen forPlay McPhatter's 'A Lover's Question' next to the Isleys' 'Twist and Shout' — listen for the same emotive tenor lead straining at the top of its register over a tight backing-vocal pulse, even as the Isleys push the tempo and grit up.