--- On 21 May 96 16:56:54 EDT
OnlineHost: Copyright 1996 America Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
OnlineHost: Your host for tonight is AOLiveMC8 (RobertJDB).
AOLiveMC8: Good evening, The Isley Brothers and welcome to AOL LIVE!
Ron Isley: Hi! Hello!
AOLiveMC8: Here's our first audience question.
Question: Do you have any new projects in the works?
Ron Isley: Yes, the new project we're working on is the new Anjula Winbush
album. Other than that we have 2 artists that are going to kick off July 3rd.
Ron Isley: Sorry, a tour going to kick off on July 3rd. Not artist.
Question: Do you have a favorite out of all your hits?
Ron Isley: Favorite hits. It varies depending on what mood I'm in.
Question: How many ''incarnations'' of The Isley Brothers were there and why
the personnel changes?
Ron Isley: We don't have any incarnations. We have 2 younger brothers that
joined us in 1969. Basically, they joined us in the 1973 album "3 plus 3."
Question: When will you be appearing in Chicago?
Ron Isley: I don't know the exact date. But it could be in July or August.
Question: One of my favorite 8 tracks was the "It's Your Thing" album but I
can't find it on CD. Is it out of print?
Ron Isley: It maybe out of print. But it is on several greatest hits albums.
AOLiveMC8: Here's a comment from a big fan.
Question: Just like to say that "Footsteps in the Dark" is one of the finest
songs ever written. It's great to see you out with a new CD. Keep 'em coming!
We were privileged to see you live at The Taj Mahal Club in Raleigh, NC. One
of the best shows we've seen!
Ron Isley: Your kind of fan really keeps us going.
Question: What do you feel is the Isley Brothers greatest contribution to
the music world?
Ron Isley: Well, among other things I think "Shout" lasted from '59 till
now. I couldn't sum it up just in one sentence.
Question: How do you feel about the remixes of your materials done by Ron
Ferminek for the recent compilation CDs. Do you prefer the stuff in its
original mono or the new stereo mixes?
Ron Isley: I like the new stereo mixes, depending on what record.
Question: Mr. Isley, how is it working with R. Kelly?
Ron Isley: He's like a son. We're like best friends. We have so much to do
futurally, that's covering music and movies.
Question: Hey! I love your song "Lay with Me." Do you have a new album out
or anything?
Ron Isley: Yes, the new album is called "Mission To Please" It's in the
record stores today, May 14th.
Question: Who or what was the greatest influence on your music?
Ron Isley: Several people; Clyde McFadder, Sam Cooke, and the other, Jackie
Wilson, and the other would be Billy Ward of the Dominos.
Question: Do you have a favorite current singer or group today?
Ron Isley: We have a lot of favorites. R. Kelly would be one. Stevie Wonder
would be one, and a host of others. I could name at least 17 or 18.
Question: What did you think of the Beatles version of "Twist and Shout" and
Otis Day and the Knight's version of "Shout?"
Ron Isley: I thought the Beatles version of "T & S" kinda knocked us out. I
liked their version. On a scale of one to 10, Otis Day and the Knight's 7.
The Beatles a 7 too on 1 to 10.
Question: Where do the words come to you from? Is it all from experience?
Ron Isley: The majority of it from experience. It's from the street.
Question: You're on the radio! What's your favorite song out of all the ones
you've done?
Ron Isley: I have a lot of favorites. I can't name one. It wouldn't it fair
to the other songs.
Question: Being an early black artist, prior to forming T-Neck records with
your brothers, what was it like recording for Teenage Records and the other
labels.
Ron Isley: A lot of fun. We learned something from every label we were on,
Motown. Before Motown we did something with RCA Victor. We learned a lot from
there too.
Question: Mr. Isley, who did your tracks on this album?
Ron Isley: On the new album we with worked with producers R. Kelly,
Babyface, Anjula Windush (my wife). We worked with Keith Sweat and of course
my brother and I do our own tracks too. And we worked with Reggie Ricker.
Question: I know you're originally from Cincinnati. Where are you and your
brothers living these days?
Ron Isley: Between LA and NJ.
Question: Do you get a lot of fan mail? If so, do you ever respond?
Ron Isley: Yes we do and we respond all the time.
Question: I know Hendrix played with you guys for a while, but was he on any
of your records?
Ron Isley: Yes he was. The first record he recorded in the studio was
"Testify with the Isley Brothers." And he was on a least another 8 or 9
records which will be released in the coming years.
Question: Why is it that the Isley Brothers are not really thought of as a
"Motown" group like the Temptations, Four Tops, or the Miracles?
Ron Isley: We didn't spend that much time at Motown, maybe one or two years.
The other groups you mentioned spent at least 15 to 20 years.
Question: What did you think of Aaliyah remake of "At Your Best?"
Ron Isley: I love it.
Question: Are you going to be coming to SC, during your tour?
Ron Isley: Oh yes. Most definitely.
AOLiveMC8: We regret it but this will be our last question, as Mr. Isley
must leave.
Question: Do you still own all of your T-Neck masters or have you sold off
the label to CBS or another company?
Ron Isley: No, we still own them and CBS is still involved with them too.
AOLiveMC8: Thank you, Ron Isley, for joining us tonight.
Ron Isley: It's been a pleasure. And I know that I'll be spending more time
with you folks out there in cyberland.
AOLiveMC8: Thank you audience for being here and for your great questions.
Goodnight!
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