Chris Jasper may not be an instantly recognizable name. He was a member of the Isley Brothers by marriage, as his sister married founding member Rudolph Isley. He didn't brandish the famous name, nor did he have a flashy style/look a la guitarist Ernie Isley or singer Ronald Isley.
He did, however, have the songs. Jasper was the principle songwriter for the Isley Brothers during their critical and commercial peak in the 1970s. He penned some of their biggest and best known songs, including "Between the Sheets," "For the Love of You" and "Fight the Power." He also played keyboards.
Jasper joined the Isley Brothers in 1973, and helped them become one of the biggest acts in funk and R&B music for the next decade. By 1984, however, things had soured. Financial difficulties and familial tensions were at an all time high, and Jasper decided to take his talents, as well as some of the other band members, with him.
Chris Jasper left the Isley Brothers in 1984
The keyboardist launched the band Isley-Jasper-Isley in 1984. The other two names in the band were representative of guitarist Ernie Isley and bassist Marvin Isley. They had a strong start with the single "Caravan of Love" in 1985. It topped the Billboard R&B charts and proved Jasper could be a success without the official Isley Brothers banner.
Unfortunately, Isley-Jasper-Isley petered out. The band called it quits in 1987, after their third album proved to be their lowest-selling. Chris Jasper spend the rest of his career dropping solo music, and he never reunited with the band that made his famous.
The Isley Brothers were able to overcome their mid-80s differences and reunite in 1991. The other two members of Isley-Jasper-Isley reunited with lead singer Ronald Isley, and they scored a major comeback hit with the R. Kelly collaboration "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)."
He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Chris Jasper may be an unsung member of the Isley Brothers when it comes to recognition, but those involved in the music industry know how important he was to the band. He was awarded the National R&B Society Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, and four years later, he was given the Soultracks Lifetime Achievement Award. Chris Jasper was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside the other Isley Brothers in 2022.
The keyboardist passed away on February 23, 2025. He was diagnosed with cancer two months prior to his death. The Isley Brothers may not have toured with Jasper for decades, but they heaped praise on Jasper in a statement released to Variety.
"He was a musical genius, a lyricist, an extended member of the Isley family, a pioneer, and a key part of the sound that shaped generations,” they stated. "Our hearts are heavy, but we are grateful for the time, the music, and the memories we shared. His legacy will live on forever. Rest easy, brother."