Chris Jasper, a former member of the Isley brothers who helped the group shape their extravagant Funk-Rock sound, has died.
The singer and composer died on Sunday at age 73, his family announced Monday on Facebook, two months after cancer diagnosed in December. The publication did not reveal additional details, including Jasper's cause of death and where he died.
“We will miss it deeply and his legacy will live as an inspiration for generations,” said his family.
The Gold City of Jasper's record label and their family members did not immediately respond to the Times confirmation application on Tuesday. Jasper's son, Michael, confirmed his father's death to multiple points of sale.
Jasper was born on December 30, 1951 in Cincinnati and began looking for music with classic piano in his childhood. His passion for music led him to Juilliard School of Music, where he studied the musical composition under the composer Billy Taylor, and finally to the Isley brothers in the early 1970s. The group in their first iteration understood the brothers or brothers or 'Kelly Isley, Rudolph Isley, Ronald Isley and Vernon Isley. Despite the death of Vernon of 1955, the group had increased to fame in the late 50s and early 60s with successes that include “Twist and Shout and” this old heart of mine. ”
Jasper, whose sister Elaine was Rudolph Isley's wife, joined the group as a keyboardist in 1973 along with the youngest isley brothers Ernie and Marvin and helped mark a chapter of Slow Funk-Rock Jams. The band made their official sextet state with the launch of their 1973 album “3+3”. During his time with the Isley brothers, Jasper wrote, organized and produced songs that include “For The Love of You”, “Between the sheets” and the optimistic “Fight the Power”, according to their website.
In the midst of tensions among its homonymous brothers, the group fractured into two smaller groups in the 80s with Jasper keeping with Ernie and Marvin to form Isley-Jjasper-Isley.
The trio was known for the songs “Caravan of Love”, “Look The Otry Way” and “Insatiable Woman”. After three albums, Isley-Jjasper-Isley dissolved in 1987. That same year, Jasper began his solo career and founded his seal, Gold City Records. The singer “Superbad” and “Share With Me” continued his solo work in his later life. His most recent single, “Be Number One,” was launched in July 2024.
The Isley brothers, including Jasper, were included in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. The group in 2014 also received a life achievement award at the Grammy Awards. Regardless, Jasper obtained honors of the National Society of R&B and the Hall of Fame of the Songwriters, among other awards.
In Monday's announcement, his family remembered Jasper as more than a musician: “Chris was a dedicated and loving husband.”
His wife, Margie Jasper, and her three children, Michael, Nicholas and Christopher, survive according to the family's post.
