Bottom Drops from Isley Brothers

"Another precious stone has been removed from our legendary musical building block," his friend Bootsy Collins told Rolling Stone. "He's part of the American soul foundation."

Musician Marvin Isley passed away on Sunday. He was 56 years old. The youngest member of the band the Isley Brothers, Marvin joined the group in 1973 and played bass with his siblings before retiring in 1996.

The first time the family group, which had consisted of founding members O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley, included six members instead of the standard three, was in 1973. Featuring younger brothers Ernie and Marvin and brother-in-law Chris Jasper, they became known to fans as 3 + 3 and charted gold and platinum success with albums such as "3 + 3", "The Heat Is On", "Go For Your Guns" and "Between the Sheets", while charting a succession of hit singles such as "That Lady", "Fight the Power", "For the Love of You", "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)" and "Between the Sheets", between 1973 and 1983.

While the talk is always about the scorching guitar of his brother, Ernie, it was Marvin who provided the bottom that made the bottoms move in the funk-fueled 70's.

Like "Fight the Power" from the Platinum seller, "3+3", co-written by Marvin.




Marvin no longer fights, but now has joined, a higher power. R.I.P.