They Started Out as a Quartet
The Isley Brothers formed in Ohio as a vocal trio consisting of three brothers: O’Kelly Jr., Rudolph and Ronald Isley. A fourth brother, Vernon, joined the band shortly before his tragic death from a hit-and-run accident. Their father, O’Kelly Sr., was a former US Navy sailor and vaudeville performer from North Carolina; their mother was their guide when they sang in church.
O’Kelly, Rudy, Ron, Vernon. Source: Tumblr
The brothers began performing together in 1954, styling themselves after groups like Billy Ward and His Dominoes and The Dixie Hummingbirds. They got their first break when they landed a spot on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour, and won the competition. The prize? A watch.