Chris Jasper, a member of the Isley Brothers and Isley-Jasper-Isley, passed away on Sunday. He was 73 years old.
The singer and songwriter died following a cancer diagnosis he received in December 2024, his family said in a statement on Facebook.
The Cincinnati, Ohio native was a classically trained musician and composer who started studying classical piano at just seven years old, his family explained.
He later moved to New York City to attend the illustrious Juilliard School of Music. He later earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in music composition with esteemed jazz pianist and composer Billy Taylor at Long Island University.
“Chris’s classical training laid the foundation for his powerful music that blended his classical training with R&B, funk, and soul,” the statement said.
In 1973, he united with Ernie and Marvin Isley and the trio turned into a six-member R&B/ Funk Group.
“His songwriting talent and expertise on keyboards and synthesizers became the cornerstone of the group’s signature sound,” the family continued. “Chris was instrumental in writing, arranging, and producing numerous hits, including classics like ‘For the Love of You,’ ‘Between the Sheets,’ and ‘Fight the Power.'”
In 1984 he formed Isley-Jasper-Isley with Ernie and Marvin Isley. They were known for the hit “Caravan of Love.”
Three years later, Jasper embarked on a solo career and founded Gold City Records where he released 17 R&B albums, including four in the Gospel genre. During that time he released “Super Bad” in 1988. A year later he wrote, produced and sang on the hit “Make It Last” with Chaka Khan.
He continued to make music and in 2019 he released ‘For the Love of You,” an album of cover songs, that also included versions of songs he contributed to with the Isley Brothers.
Throughout his decades-long career, he received numerous gold and platinum albums. In 1992 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall. He has also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammys and in 2022 he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.”
The singer and songwriter’s musical legacy has also left a lasting impact.
His work has been sampled and covered by artists like Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Queen Latifah, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Fantasia, Will Smith and more.
“He will be deeply missed and his legacy will live on as an inspiration for generations,” the statement continued.
Jasper is survived by his wife of 42 years, Margie, and their sons Michael, Nicholas and Christopher.
