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December 6, 2010

For half a century, Ronald Isley's crystalline voice has spurred millions to shout, twist, groove, fight the power and, above all, make babies between the sheets.

But it wasn't until the leader of the Isley Brothers wound up in federal prison that he discovered another purpose for his "gift from God."

Isley, now 69, had been convicted on tax charges in 2006 and sentenced to 37 months. While incarcerated, he plotted a solo album, which became Mr. I, released last week.

More important, he kept his voice in shape by leading gospel services and a Christmas show.

"People looked up to me, and I taught them things they didn't know about," he says. "The shows I did there were the best of my life. People were crying, it was me crying, the audience was crying. I couldn't believe how much love was there. I will never forget that."

The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who burst out of Cincinnati and onto the national scene in 1959 singing Shout with brothers O'Kelly and Rudolph, hopes his audience hasn't forgotten him.

Mr. I is his first solo album since 2003 and his first appearance on an R&B album since 2006's Baby Makin' Music, which was recorded under the Isley Brothers name with younger sibling Ernie and hit No. 1 on Billboard's R&B/hip-hop album chart.

This time he enlisted all-star producers including Greg Curtis, Sound Dynasty, Kajun and Tricky Stewart.

Among guests singing with him are Aretha Franklin ("We've been knowing each other since 1962"), Lauryn Hill and T.I.

"I knew I would have a lot of pressure," he says.

First single No More got off to a modest start, selling 6,000 digital downloads since its October release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It peaked at No. 18 on Billboard's adult R&B chart.

Still, that voice has built up a lot of goodwill over the decades, and subsequent singles are likely to find an audience, says Gail Mitchell, Billboard senior editor for R&B/hip-hop. "It all goes back to the songs. You've got strong songs, and (Isley's) is one of the most distinctive voices in R&B history. He should do fine. There is an older adult market out there not being served" by contemporary radio.

Isley says he is putting a tour together, but for now, he's spending time with his wife, Kandy Johnson, and son Ronald Jr., who was 8 months old when his father went to prison. "He is my strength," Isley says. "He's a singer now — all the songs from the Disney programs. I was like that when I was young. It's like seeing myself all over again."

Isley, who is one of the most-sampled voices in hip-hop history, hopes that a track from Mr. I or from a future release will extend his distinction of having had a pop or R&B hit in every decade since the '50s.

"That would be great," he says. "I watched Sinatra, and he was doing it all the way up until his end. I'm going to do it until the Lord comes back."

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Age and Prison have made him look way older than he is He has an 8 month old kid I mean he will pass on before the kid is in elementary school

nursev said:

Age and Prison have made him look way older than he is He has an 8 month old kid I mean he will pass on before the kid is in elementary school

Wait a minute the kid is about 2 or 3 now...he was 8 months old when Ron when to prison. But yes he does look older, but going through cancer, having a stroke and going to prison will do that to a person. I see that his voice isn't that great anymore when I saw him on the Soul Train Music Awards...perhaps he should consider retirement now and focus on family life.

missfee said:

nursev said:

Age and Prison have made him look way older than he is He has an 8 month old kid I mean he will pass on before the kid is in elementary school

Wait a minute the kid is about 2 or 3 now...he was 8 months old when Ron when to prison. But yes he does look older, but going through cancer, having a stroke and going to prison will do that to a person. I see that his voice isn't that great anymore when I saw him on the Soul Train Music Awards...perhaps he should consider retirement now and focus on family life.

Still poor child will not have him around for long Of course those ailments will cause anyone to look weary, but damn Ron is not looking good at all Haven't heard him sing yet-his voice is unforgettable, but there does come a time when one should at least slow down if not retire like you said.

missfee said:

nursev said:

Age and Prison have made him look way older than he is He has an 8 month old kid I mean he will pass on before the kid is in elementary school

Wait a minute the kid is about 2 or 3 now...he was 8 months old when Ron when to prison. But yes he does look older, but going through cancer, having a stroke and going to prison will do that to a person. I see that his voice isn't that great anymore when I saw him on the Soul Train Music Awards...perhaps he should consider retirement now and focus on family life.

Retirement He probably should rather than going on embarrassing himself with

the Mr. Biggs persona but the reality is most of these legendary entertainers

perform until they die on the stage. That's just the reality. All they know is performing

and i can't be mad at them for that.

phunkdaddy said:

missfee said:

Wait a minute the kid is about 2 or 3 now...he was 8 months old when Ron when to prison. But yes he does look older, but going through cancer, having a stroke and going to prison will do that to a person. I see that his voice isn't that great anymore when I saw him on the Soul Train Music Awards...perhaps he should consider retirement now and focus on family life.

Retirement He probably should rather than going on embarrassing himself with

the Mr. Biggs persona but the reality is most of these legendary entertainers

perform until they die on the stage. That's just the reality. All they know is performing

and i can't be mad at them for that.

Don't say that-just got through posting in another Prince is dead thread Ronald should really retire and enjoy the rest of his life or maybe financially he can't retire

nursev said:

phunkdaddy said:

Retirement He probably should rather than going on embarrassing himself with

the Mr. Biggs persona but the reality is most of these legendary entertainers

perform until they die on the stage. That's just the reality. All they know is performing

and i can't be mad at them for that.

Don't say that-just got through posting in another Prince is dead thread Ronald should really retire and enjoy the rest of his life or maybe financially he can't retire

Bingo.

I don't think Ronald is in good health. I don't have an issue if he still wants to preform. Lord knows the he and his family have created some serious music.

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[Edited 12/7/10 14:05pm]

missfee said:

nursev said:

Age and Prison have made him look way older than he is He has an 8 month old kid I mean he will pass on before the kid is in elementary school

Wait a minute the kid is about 2 or 3 now...he was 8 months old when Ron when to prison. But yes he does look older, but going through cancer, having a stroke and going to prison will do that to a person. I see that his voice isn't that great anymore when I saw him on the Soul Train Music Awards...perhaps he should consider retirement now and focus on family life.

He probably can't afford to retire.

He sold his publishing rights a long time ago to try to get out of going to jail.

daPrettyman said:

missfee said:

Wait a minute the kid is about 2 or 3 now...he was 8 months old when Ron when to prison. But yes he does look older, but going through cancer, having a stroke and going to prison will do that to a person. I see that his voice isn't that great anymore when I saw him on the Soul Train Music Awards...perhaps he should consider retirement now and focus on family life.

He probably can't afford to retire.

He sold his publishing rights a long time ago to try to get out of going to jail.

I heard about that.

Timmy84 said:

daPrettyman said:

He probably can't afford to retire.

He sold his publishing rights a long time ago to try to get out of going to jail.

I heard about that.

phunkdaddy said:

Timmy84 said:

I heard about that.

Besides from trying to grant leniency, he was trying to do anything to avoid the sentence.

phunkdaddy said:

Timmy84 said:

I heard about that.

I thought the "Isley's" sold a percentage of their rights? That's what I remember reading or being reported.

TD3 said:

phunkdaddy said:

I thought the "Isley's" sold a percentage of their rights? That's what I remember reading or being reported.

They did when they were in danger of being charged/imprisoned by the IRS. They had to fold their T-Neck label as a result. All three elder Isley Brothers were spending too frivously (sp?). I don't know if Ron sold his publishing rights to get out of jail for sure, I'm just stating it could've been a possibility.

nursev said:

missfee said:

Wait a minute the kid is about 2 or 3 now...he was 8 months old when Ron when to prison. But yes he does look older, but going through cancer, having a stroke and going to prison will do that to a person. I see that his voice isn't that great anymore when I saw him on the Soul Train Music Awards...perhaps he should consider retirement now and focus on family life.

Still poor child will not have him around for long Of course those ailments will cause anyone to look weary, but damn Ron is not looking good at all Haven't heard him sing yet-his voice is unforgettable, but there does come a time when one should at least slow down if not retire like you said.

I agree with the both of you. Isn't he still having money issues as well? He has made some very unwise choices.

I wouldn't worry about his child. Once he passes, that young honey of a wife will move on and remarry. Not to sound harsh but let's be real, she in it for the paper. Oh well, as long as he's kept happy.

DesireeNevermind said:

nursev said:

Still poor child will not have him around for long Of course those ailments will cause anyone to look weary, but damn Ron is not looking good at all Haven't heard him sing yet-his voice is unforgettable, but there does come a time when one should at least slow down if not retire like you said.

I agree with the both of you. Isn't he still having money issues as well? He has made some very unwise choices.

I wouldn't worry about his child. Once he passes, that young honey of a wife will move on and remarry. Not to sound harsh but let's be real, she in it for the paper. Oh well, as long as he's kept happy.

She's one of the Johnson sisters. They did a few tours with The Isleys in the 00s. I think R. Kelly introduced them.

She and her sister released an album that R. Kelly produced.

They had a minor r&b hit with the song "Ice Cream".

Ronald's wife is on the right.

The sister on the left, I've seen her touring with EWF. I know she was with them a few years ago.

[Edited 12/7/10 18:54pm]

daPrettyman said:

DesireeNevermind said:

I agree with the both of you. Isn't he still having money issues as well? He has made some very unwise choices.

I wouldn't worry about his child. Once he passes, that young honey of a wife will move on and remarry. Not to sound harsh but let's be real, she in it for the paper. Oh well, as long as he's kept happy.

She's one of the Johnson sisters. They did a few tours with The Isleys in the 00s. I think R. Kelly introduced them.

She and her sister released an album that R. Kelly produced.

They had a minor r&b hit with the song "Ice Cream".

Ronald's wife is on the right.

The sister on the left, I've seen her touring with EWF. I know she was with them a few years ago.

[Edited 12/7/10 18:54pm]

Yeah Ron's wife's sister (his sister-in-law) is married to Philip Bailey.

DesireeNevermind said:

nursev said:

Still poor child will not have him around for long Of course those ailments will cause anyone to look weary, but damn Ron is not looking good at all Haven't heard him sing yet-his voice is unforgettable, but there does come a time when one should at least slow down if not retire like you said.

I agree with the both of you. Isn't he still having money issues as well? He has made some very unwise choices.

I wouldn't worry about his child. Once he passes, that young honey of a wife will move on and remarry. Not to sound harsh but let's be real, she in it for the paper. Oh well, as long as he's kept happy.

Exactly. That's why she sealed the deal by quickly getting pregnant and having the child before he was carted off to jail. I bet she was expecting him to die in jail to reap all the left over rewards to his estate.

has anyone heard his new album? Is it any good?

missfee said:

DesireeNevermind said:

I agree with the both of you. Isn't he still having money issues as well? He has made some very unwise choices.

I wouldn't worry about his child. Once he passes, that young honey of a wife will move on and remarry. Not to sound harsh but let's be real, she in it for the paper. Oh well, as long as he's kept happy.

Exactly. That's why she sealed the deal by quickly getting pregnant and having the child before he was carted off to jail. I bet she was expecting him to die in jail to reap all the left over rewards to his estate.

I thought the same thing. I think it had been mentioned that he had health problems before going to jail. She definitely thought he was going to die.