Isley Brothers member Chris Jasper dies at 73 after reshaping the band

by · Mail Online

Chris Jasper, the singer–songwriter who helped transform the Isley Brothers from a vocal trio into a hit-making juggernaut in the 1970s and '80s, has died at 73.

Jasper's family announced on Facebook on Monday that he had died on Sunday, February 23.

According to their statement, the keyboardist had been diagnosed with cancer in December 2024.

Jasper, who joined the Isley Brothers in 1973, 'transformed' the group 'from a vocal trio into a self-contained six member R&B/Funk group,' his family said in its announcement.

The group, which was founded in the mid-1950s by vocalists O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley, became a full-fledged band with the addition of their younger brothers Ernie Isley on lead guitar and drums, Marvin Isley on electric bass and guitar, and Jasper on keyboards.

In 1983, Jasper and the two younger Isleys split from the group and performed as Isley–Jasper–Isley from 1984 through 1987, while the three older Isley members continued to perform as the Isley Brothers.

Chris Jasper, the singer–songwriter who helped transform the Isley Brothers from a vocal trio into a hit-making juggernaut in the 1970s and '80s, has died at 73; pictured in 2014 in LA
Jasper, whose family announced he died on Sunday, February 23, joined the Isley Brothers as a keyboardist and songwriter in 1973, as the group transformed from a vocal trio into a full band; Jasper (L) pictured performing with the Isley Brothers in 1981 in Niles, Ill.

Jasper — who had recorded occasional instrumental parts on earlier Isley Brothers tunes — became a full-fledged songwriter for the band after becoming an official member.

He is credited with helping to write most of the group's monster hits from the '70s and '80s, including Fight The Power, The Pride and Footsteps in the Dark, which has been sampled numerous times, most famously for Ice Cube's hit It Was A Good Day. 

'His songwriting talent and expertise on keyboards and synthesizers became the cornerstone of the group's signature sound,' Jasper's family wrote in its announcement of his death.

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Jasper, who studied classic music as a child, grew up in Cincinnati and later moved to New York City to study composition at the Juilliard School of Music, before moving on to C.W. Post, Long Island University, where he studied jazz with the esteemed pianist Billy Taylor. 

He had a lifelong connection to the Isleys, as his family lived in the same Cincinnati apartment complex, and he became an in-law after his older sister Elaine married Rudolph Isley. 

As a teenager, Jasper formed a trio with the younger Isleys, Ernie and Marvin. 

While the three were attending college together, they were also working as the touring band for the Isley Brothers and working on studio sessions for the group when it was still just a vocal trio.

Although he appeared as a sideman on Isley Brothers albums as early as the late 1960s, it wasn't until 1972's Brother, Brother, Brother that Jasper earned his first credit on one of the band's songs — for Love Put Me On The Corner.

In 1983, Jasper (center) and the late-joining brothers Ernie (L) and Marvin Isley (R) split from the group and performed as Isley–Jasper–Isley (pictured) from 1984 through 1987, while the three older Isley members continued to perform as the Isley Brothers
Jasper (top center) was a childhood neighbor of the Isleys in Cincinnati, and his sister married Rudolph Isley. He worked as a sideman for the group beginning in the '60s, before getting his first songwriting credit for them with 1972's Love Put Me On The Corner; pictured circa 1973 

He wasn't credited as a full member of the group until the following year's acclaimed album 3 + 3, which alluded to the expanded lineup in its title.

Jasper's time in the band coincided with an increasing focus on R&B and funk. 

He supplied piano, multiple keyboards, including the funk-friendly clavinet, and Moog synthesizer to beef up the group's sound during his tenure.

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After splitting to form Isley–Jasper–Isley, he took on lead vocal duties while continuing to play keyboards and contribute to songwriting and production. 

The group released three albums to varying commercial success, though the title track of its 1985 sophomore album Caravan Of Love topped the Billboard R&B charts and became a later number-one hit for the English band the Housemartins.

After Isley–Jasper–Isley disbanded in 1987, Ernie and Marvin rejoined the rest of the Isley Brothers, while Jasper continued working as a solo artist.

He went on to form Gold City Records, which released his 17 solo albums.

Most of those followed the R&B and funk formula he perfected with the Isleys, but he also made multiple detours into gospel music later in his career. 

Jasper's time in the band coincided with an increasing focus on R&B and funk; The Isley Brothers are pictured in 1976
The group is one of the most-sampled of all time, and artists including Aaliyah, Jay-Z, the Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur and Whitney Houston have sampled songs Jasper is credited on; Jasper (third to the left) pictured with the Isley Brothers in 1978
Jasper was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as part of the Isley Brothers; pictured in 1986 in Niles, Ill.
In 2014, he joined the surviving members of the group when they were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014; (L–R) Jasper, Ronald Isley, former Grammys President Neil Portnow and Ernie Isley pictured at the ceremony

In 1988, he again topped the Billboard R&B charts with his 1988 song Superbad. 

In 1992, the members of the expanded lineup of the Isley Brothers, including Jasper, were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

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He joined the surviving members of the group when they were honored in 2014 with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. 

In 2022, Jasper was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as a member of the Isley Brothers.

The group has become one of the most-sampled artists of all time, and an illustrious group of musicians including Aaliyah, Gwen Stefani, Jay-Z, the Notorious B.I.G., Queen Latifah, Snoop Dogg, Tupac Shakur, Will Smith and Whitney Houston have sampled songs from the period Jasper was a performer and co-songwriter.

Jasper is survived by his wife of 42 years, the New-York based attorney Margie Jasper, as well as his sons Michael, Nicholas and Christopher.