Musician and producer was behind some of the band’s biggest hits, with his work also sampled by hip-hop stars such as Tupac, The Notorious BIG and Jay-Z
Chris Jasper, a writer, producer, and musician who played a pivotal role in shaping The Isley Brothers' signature sound, has died at the age of 73. Born in Cincinnati in 1951, Jasper trained in classical music at the Juilliard School before joining The Isley Brothers in 1973. He helped transform the trio into a six-member funk and R&B group, contributing to their biggest hits, including *Between the Sheets* and *The Heat is On*. His work was later sampled by hip-hop artists like Tupac, The Notorious BIG, and Jay-Z. After the band splintered in 1984, Jasper co-founded Isley-Jasper-Isley, producing hits such as *Caravan of Love*. He continued to release music as a solo artist and founded Gold City Records. Jasper passed away following a cancer diagnosis in December 2023 and is survived by his wife, Margie, and three sons.
