Chris Jasper, the multitalented musician and songwriter who helped transform the sound of the Isley Brothers before launching his own career, died on Sunday at age 73.

Jasper was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer last December, his family said Monday in a Facebook post.

“Beyond his musical achievements, Chris was a dedicated and loving husband and father,” the family wrote. “He will be deeply missed, and his legacy will live on as an inspiration for generations.”

Jasper was a key part of several major Isley Brothers hits, including “For the Love of You,” “Between the Sheets,” and “Fight the Power.” When the group split, he also penned “Caravan of Love” alongside Marvin and Earnie Isley in their breakaway group, Isley-Jasper-Isley.

The biggest hit of Jasper’s solo career was “Superbad,” which was released in 1987 and encouraged kids to stay in school.

Alongside the Isley Brothers, Jasper was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Born Dec. 30, 1951, in Cincinnati, Jasper’s family lived down the street from the Isleys. His sister, Elaine, eventually married Rudolph Isley.

The Isley Brothers first rose to fame as a singing trio, made up of the oldest three brothers, Ronald, Rudolph and O’Kelly. But they reached their commercial and musical peak in the 1970s and ’80s after adding two younger brothers, Marvin and Earnie, along with Jasper.

“The three younger guys brought a new musical direction,” Jasper said in a 2013 interview. “The so-called ‘Isley sound’ has been attributed to the way I voiced the chords on many of the lush ballads, which were a result of my classical training.”

After the Isley Brothers’ dissolution and the short-lived run of Isley-Jasper-Isley, Jasper released 17 solo albums, including four gospel albums.

“I would like to be remembered as a good husband, good father, good son, and a man who loves and reveres the Lord, and recognized as a good composer who puts positive messages in good music,” he said in 2013.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts


This will close in 0 seconds