Isley Brothers’ hall-of-fame career six decades and counting

ALBANY — A conversation with Ernie Isley is like stepping into a time machine and taking a trip that starts in 1954 and continues for 60 years … with only brief periods of inactivity along the way.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and recipients of the R&B Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, the Isleys’ music is like the party soundtrack to a multitude of generations’ lives. From the iconic “Shout” and “Twist and Shout” to the innovative “It’s Your Thing” and “That Lady” to the cultural rallying cry of “Fight the Power,” Isley Brothers music is as American as baseball and apple pie.

It’s “Shout” that helped make “Animal House” and John Belushi household names; “That Lady” that introduced a soul/rock/R&B fusion that would serve as the blueprint for popular music for decades to come, and “Fight the Power” that became the rallying cry of millions of America’s young in an age of disconnect and disillusionment.

And it’s songs like the Isleys’ cover of Seals and Crofts’ “Summer Breeze” and “This Old Heart of Mine” — maybe one of the most soulful songs ever recorded — that made the Cincinnati-born Isleys an American treasure.

“It’s amazing to walk onto a stage and wave at (Beatles widows) Yoko (Ono) and Olivia Harrison and Ringo Starr … and have them wave back,” Ernie Isley, who joined the Isley Brothers in 1972, said in a phone conversation with The Albany Herald. “Knowing that the resume we’ve created over the years is appreciated is one of the highlights of this journey that we’ve taken.

“It’s an amazing thing that we’ve been embraced by an audience that spans across generations.”

The Isley Brothers, who have familial ties to Albany, will make their debut appearance here Saturday when they join Fantasia for the sixth annual Soulfest celebration at the Albany Civic Center. Also performing are the Atlanta Pleasure Band, MC Lighfoot and the Trap Girls.

Despite making initial waves in the ’50s, the Isleys have remained influential some six decades later.

“Yeah, we’re expecting a Grammy any day for Kendrick Lamar’s song (“i,” which samples “That Lady”),” Isley said. “Everyone says, ‘That’s Kendrick Lamar,’ and it is. But it’s The Isleys, too. That’s something that’s been constant throughout our career.”

Isley took time Tuesday to talk with The Albany Herald about his band’s career and its performance Saturday at the Civic Center.

ALBANY HERALD: So are you guys ready to bring the party to Albany?

ERNIE ISLEY: Oh, yes, we’re definitely looking forward to coming to Albany.

AH: The Isley Brothers recently received the R&B Lifetime Achievement Award. Folks that get that are usually either retired or passed on. Yet you endure. How do you keep doing this night after night and year after year?

EI: We love what we do. You also have to factor in grace, which everybody doesn’t get. But our audience has embraced us across generations, so we get to keep doing what we love to do.

AH: The music business is so fickle. So many acts are huge today and gone tomorrow. Yet you keep making work that endures. Is that a source of pride for the band?

EI: In terms of doing what we do, we’ve been able to change with the musical climate and still sound like us. A lot of folks aren’t able to do that. But you’re right about the fickleness. You have to want to do this, to be committed. You sometimes have to “Fight the Power.”

AH: You’ve had hits from the ’50s up to the 2000s. Do different audiences respond more to songs from different eras?

EI: The folks that are into us, a lot of times it depends on when they got on board. When they do, though, they usually discover other aspects. People who loved “That Lady” will discover “Twist and Shout” or “This Old Heart of Mine” or “It’s Your Thing.” It’s been that way with other musicians, too.

AH: What are some of your favorite songs to perform?

EI: That’s a good question, but it’s kind of like asking which are the favorite fingers on your hand. I like and appreciate all of the songs from our catalog and what they’ve meant to us. We try to do as many as we can in our shows, stretch from today all the way back to “Shout.” We’ll change it up sometimes, ask what people want to hear. When they shout out a song, we’ll do it. That spontaneous aspect keeps the show fresh for us.

AH: The record business has changed so much over the years. How have you adapted?

EI: We’ve always had a willingness to listen. Even with the changes, our stuff has continued to touch a nerve with the public. I mean, who doesn’t know (singing) “Now, waaaaaaaaaiiiiit a minute …?” You could do a party with just Isleys music. People might say, “‘Twist and Shout’, that’s the Beatles.” It’s the Isleys. “‘Big Poppa,’ that’s Biggie Smalls.” Isleys. “‘It’s Your Thing,’ that’s the Jackson 5.” Isleys.

AH: Does it bother you that some of your songs may be better known by other artists’ versions?

EI: It’s a feather in our cap. It’s just like us doing Seals and Crofts’ “Summer Breeze” or Todd Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me.” We all like that. I ran into Todd in California when he was doing an interview and stuck my head in the door. I said, “Hello, it’s me.” We both had a big laugh at that.

AH: What does it mean to the Isleys when a song like “Shout” is a big part of a movie like “Animal House” or “That Lady” — which is one of my favorites of all time — becomes part of a TV ad campaign?

EI: It’s great recognition, plus it keeps our music in the present tense. A song like “Shout” is performed at birthdays, bar mitzvahs, wedding parties. I was on an elevator the other day and as it stopped, I heard, “Now, waaaaiiit a minute.” I had to laugh.

AH: I’ve read horror stories about musicians traveling, especially in the early days of rock and roll. How is it for you now?

EI: Travel, in many ways, is where the work is in this business, at least physically. The show is easy. It’s like, “Where are we going? Japan. That’s 17 hours in the air.” You have to have some time to recover.

AH: Does the band have a master plan for your career, or do you kind of play it by ear?

EI: We’ve never had a so-called plan. The terrain is always subject to change, so we have to be prepared to change as well. It’s always been bear in mind as you go for us.

AH: How does it feel, looking back, to know that your music touched so many lives and had an impact on the social fabric of this country?

EI: We really don’t look back so much. Sure, you do when there’s something like the Lifetime Achievement Award. But we’re more or less in the now.

AH: It’s been a pleasure talking to someone who’s brought me personally so much musical pleasure. With your amazing career, what’s the best thing about the whole thing?

EI: That it’s still going on.

Tickets for Saturday’s show, which kicks off at 7 p.m., are on sale at the Civic Center box office, at Odyssey Records, the Sandtrap Lounge, Big Daddy’s Lounge, Executive Cars and all Ticketmaster outlets.