Music legends The Isley Brothers were honored Wednesday with the 2,834th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, celebrating a historic 67-year career whose foundation was laid not in the spotlight, but in the sanctuary.
Surviving brothers Ronald Isley and Ernie Isley attended the ceremony, joined by industry leaders including Sony Music Publishing CEO Jon Platt and acclaimed producer Terry Lewis, who reflected on the group's unparalleled influence on American music.
Before chart-topping success and global recognition, the Isley Brothers began in 1954 as a gospel quartet, singing in churches and faith gatherings under the spiritual guidance of their family. That gospel upbringing shaped the group's signature sound-infusing their music with fervent harmonies, emotional conviction, and a call-and-response energy rooted in worship traditions.
Their early gospel formation became the spiritual engine behind defining hits such as "Shout," "Twist and Shout," and the Grammy-winning "It's Your Thing." What audiences heard as irresistible groove and passion was, at its core, an expression forged in church-music that carried the joy, urgency, and testimony of faith into the public square.
Across decades of musical evolution-from gospel to soul, R&B, funk, and rock-the Isley Brothers never lost the spiritual DNA that anchored their artistry. Their longevity in an ever-changing industry stands as a testament to values shaped early on: faith, family, discipline, and perseverance.
The Walk of Fame honor recognizes more than commercial achievement; it acknowledges a cultural legacy that traces back to gospel roots and sacred spaces. The Isley Brothers' journey exemplifies how music birthed in worship can transcend genre and generation, influencing countless artists while remaining spiritually grounded.
With their star now permanently etched into Hollywood Boulevard, the Isley Brothers are celebrated not only as architects of American popular music, but as artists whose enduring impact began with faith-and continues to resonate around the world.
