Our Tribute to Chris Jasper (1951-2025)

In addition to his collaborative work as a songwriter and producer, Chris Jasper made a distinctive contribution to the Isley sound with his use of keyboards and synthesizers until going solo.

Originally from Cincinnati, keyboardist and singer Chris Jasper began studying classical music, encouraged by his mother, at the age of 7. He continued his musical training at the Juilliard School of Music in New York, where he earned a degree in musical composition under the guidance of pianist Billy Taylor. From adolescence, he was close to the Isley family—his older sister, Elaine, married Rudolph Isley. He began playing with its two youngest members, Marvin and Ernie Isley, forming The Jazzman Trio, which mainly performed in New Jersey. The trio made their recording debut with The Isley Brothers on the 1969 album Get Into Something, and Jasper co-wrote his first composition for the group, “Love Put Me On the Corner,” in 1972.

The following year, Chris Jasper and brothers Marvin and Ernie Isley formally joined The Isley Brothers with the album 3 + 3, bringing their own touch of modernity to the group’s albums, which had been recorded since 1957. In addition to his collaborative work as a songwriter and producer, Jasper made a distinctive contribution to the Isley sound with his use of keyboards and, notably, Moog synthesizers up until the album Between the Sheets in 1983. This period amounted to a total of 12 albums in a decade, seven of which topped the R&B charts.

The adventure abruptly ended in 1984, and Jasper, along with the two younger Isley brothers, formed the trio Isley-Jasper-Isley. Between 1984 and 1987, the trio released three albums, notably scoring a hit with “Caravan of Love,” on which Jasper was the lead singer. Jasper embarked on a solo career when Marvin and Ernie Isley decided to rejoin The Isley Brothers. He released two albums for CBS and scored a hit in 1988 with “Superbad.” During this period, he also produced a track for Chaka Khan.

He then continued his journey independently, releasing about ten albums, including several gospel records and an album of covers of Isley Brothers songs he had contributed to, “For the Love of You”’ on his own label, Gold City.