R.I.P.: Bill Isles, Co-Founder of The O'Jays

Bill Isles

William Carvan Isles II, an original member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted R&B vocal group The O’Jays, died on March 28 at his home in Oceanside, CA, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.

He was 78. The cause of death was cancer, according to his son, Duane Isles, who said that his father was surrounded by family members at the time of his passing.

Isles — better known as Bill Isles — was born Jan. 4 1941 in McAtenville, N.C. He was just 2 when he moved with his family to Canton, Ohio, where he learned to sing in church. Together with some of his childhood friends, Isles formed a singing group called The Mascots in 1958 when they were attending McKinley High School. Fun, not fame , was their initial goal.

In 1960, the group changed its name to The Triumphs and released its first single, “Miracles,” in 1961. It came out on King Records, a Cincinnati label whose roster of artists also included James Brown. Two years later, in 1963, top Cleveland DJ Eddie O’Jay suggested another name change and The Triumphs became The O’Jays.

Noted for his supple baritone, Isles was featured on such notable songs by The O’Jays as “Lonely Drifter” in 1963 and “Lipstick Traces” in 1965. He quit the group soon thereafter and married his wife of 52 years, Laural. But Isles didn’t turn his back on music for long. According to his son, Duane, Isles worked as The O’Jays’ tour manager from 1971 to 1974, a time that saw the group score such indelible hits as “Back Stabbers,” “Love Train” and “For the Love of Money.”