The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world on its head, making the 2001 Isley Brothers hit “Contagious” take on a whole new meaning. While very few people are currently singing the associated lyrics, “touch me, baby, give me what you got,” the song that may not have aged well doesn’t cast a big enough shadow to ignore the legacy of Ron Isley and the Isley Brothers.

The Isley Brothers is an American R&B family group originally from Cincinnati, OH. The singing brothers have captivated audiences for decades with a musical history that goes back to the 1950s. One of the pieces of magic that made the group successful was the sultry, piercing lead vocals from Ronald “Ron” Isley.

Ron Isley’s iconic voice can be heard on chart-topping classics like “For the Love Of You,” “Choosey Lover,” and “Between The Sheets.” Isley and his singing brothers also proved their residual relevance by expanding their audience to younger generations with songs like “Busted” and “Just Came Here To Chill.”

During the height of the craze of Verzuz, Ron Isley could be seen with his brother, Ernie Isley, in a head-to-head musical battle against Earth Wind & Fire. This global musical stage brought new eyes to the group and had the aunties in a proverbial chokehold with Ron’s well-groomed grayish-white beard. Leveraging this success and attention, Ron Isley has been working and touring, and he announced an upcoming collaboration with Beyoncé. The new song, “Make Me Say It Again, Girl,” is slated to release Friday, Aug. 12.

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Although Ronald Isley continues to enjoy the success of music, he has also built a family to share his legacy and his wealth. The hard work has amassed Ronald Isley a net worth of $2 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.

Here’s how the R&B crooner built his family and a look at who’s continuing the Isley musical legacy.

The Isley Brothers

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