Six years after being honored on the St. Louis Walk of Fame, the legendary Isley Brothers added another milestone to their unmatched musical journey. On Wednesday morning, surviving members Ronald and Ernie Isley received the 2,834th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — a moment that brought their decades‑long legacy full circle for two brothers who have called St. Louis home for nearly 30 years.
Their star sits at the corner of Sycamore Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, where fans, industry leaders and longtime collaborators gathered to celebrate a group whose influence stretches across gospel, soul, funk, rock, R&B and hip‑hop.
KTLA 5 entertainment anchor Melvin Robert emceed the ceremony, with tributes that included famed producer and songwriter Terry Lewis, chairman and CEO of Sony Music Publishing.
“I learned from these guys that longevity isn’t luck — it’s hard work, it’s vision, it’s family and it’s excellence,” Lewis said. “I’ve been kicking doors down trying to make this day happen for many, many years because it was long overdue for these gentlemen.”
The Isley Brothers’ story began in 1954 as a gospel quartet in Cincinnati with brothers O’Kelly, Rudolph, Ronald and Vernon. After Vernon’s tragic passing in 1955, the remaining three pushed forward — eventually breaking through with “Shout,” their first hit to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Their catalog would go on to define eras: “Twist and Shout,” “This Old Heart of Mine,” “It’s Your Thing,” and countless others.
In 1973, younger brothers Ernie and Marvin joined the group along with brother‑in‑law Chris Jasper, ushering in a new era of musicianship that blended rock guitar, soul harmonies and funk rhythms.
At the podium, Ronald couldn’t resist giving the crowd a taste of the classic that started it all.
“You know you make me want to shout!” he sang, drawing cheers before thanking his wife, children and grandchildren. “I want to thank all of our fans — each and every one. We’ve been doing this for 67 years, and God bless you all.”
Ernie used his moment to honor the original quartet and the members who have passed on. Though he admitted he struggled to find the right words, he told the audience that his “heart is full.”
Throughout their career, they broke barriers and genres with a legacy that continues to have an impact on music today as one of the most sampled groups in hip hop and R&B. Drake, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G., Megan Thee Stallion are just a few of the artists who have borrowed from the Isley Brothers.
“We’ve been able to change when the musical terrain changed,” Ernie told St. Louis Public Radio’s Chad Davis during their St. Louis Walk of Fame induction in 2019. “We didn’t know that when technology came along — MTV, hip‑hop, rap — there would be a whole new generation of artists leaning on our catalog.”
Their most recent studio album, Make Me Say It Again, Girl (2022), featured Beyoncé on the title track — earning the group a Soul Train Award — along with appearances from Earth, Wind & Fire, El DeBarge, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, and more.