Ernie Isley

Ernie Isley was born into a very musical family and grew up with his older brothers forming a group and singing gospel.  When Ernie was 14 years old he played drums as a member of the famed Isley Brothers and by 1968 taught himself to play guitar.  He arranged several of the groups cover songs and wrote a string of their hit records including “Fight the Power,” “Footsteps In the Dark” and “That Lady” which he wrote with his brother-in-law Chris Jasper.  Ernie’s guitar can be heard as a part of the groups recognizable sound on such classic recordings as “Summer Breeze.”  Ernie was interviewed for the Oral History program during his 2014 visit to the NAMM Show in Anaheim.