The Isley Brothers lawsuit: Ronald Isley accused of cutting brother Rudolph out of group’s profits
The Isley Brothers lawsuit: Ronald Isley accused of removing his older brother, Rudolph Isley, from the legendary musical group’s profits
Rudolph Isley has filed a lawsuit against his younger brother Ronald Isley over the legendary band’s trademarks.
Rudolph, 83, said in legal documents reviewed by TMZ that Ronald, 81, conducted business transactions without his knowledge that potentially cost him money.
In the lawsuit, Rudolph told the court that Ronald successfully filed to trademark The Isley Brothers name last summer and has since collected all the winnings.
Rudolph said in legal documents that he and his younger brother had agreed to equally split the band’s profits since the 1986 death of his brother and bandmate O’Kelly from a heart attack.
Rudolph said in court documents that Ronald violated the agreement they agreed to when he obtained the use of the name for “visual recordings and audiovisual recordings with music and animation” last August after filing an application in November 2021.
The Latest: Rudolph Isley, 83, has filed a lawsuit against his younger brother, Ronald Isley, 81, over the legendary band’s trademarks. Ronald, Rudolph and Ernie Isley were photographed performing in Los Angeles in June 2004.
Rudolph said Ronald needed his authorization to obtain the trademark, but did not contact him ahead of time about the deal.
Rudolph said that for decades, he and Ronald split profits equally, including multi-million dollar publishing arrangements, before recent events.
Rudolph has asked the judge in the case to audit Ronald’s earnings since the switch and reimburse him for half the amount.
You are also asking the judge to reinstate your 50 percent share of the group’s profits.
The Cincinnati, Ohio-based group initially began as a four-piece with brother Vernon Isley, who died at the age of 13 in a car accident in 1955.
They continued with Ronald as lead singer and Rudolph and O’Kelly as backing vocalists.
The ensemble had hits like 1959’s Shout, 1962’s Twist and Shout (later covered by the Beatles), 1966’s This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You), 1969’s It’s Your Thing, 1973’s That Lady and Fight the Power from 1975.
The group was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
Ronald was photographed performing during the 2022 Essence Festival of Culture at the Louisiana Superdome on July 3, 2022 in New Orleans.
The late O’Kelly, Ronald and Rudolph Isley were photographed in a throwback photo.
The talented brothers posed for a 1971 photo in New York. The group was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.