If you’ve ever turned on a radio in the last sixty years, you’ve heard Ronald Isley. That silky, effortless vibrato is basically the DNA of American R&B. But lately, as his classic tracks trend on TikTok and he pops up in high-profile collaborations with artists like Beyoncé and 2 Chainz, a lot of fans are hitting Google with the same question: how old is ron isley anyway?
It’s a fair question. The man seems to have found some secret fountain of youth, or maybe he’s just made of different stuff than the rest of us.
The Current Age of a Living Legend
Let’s get the numbers out of the way. Ronald Isley was born on May 21, 1941, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Doing the math for 2026, that makes him 84 years old, and he’ll be turning 85 this coming May.
- Just let that sink in for a second.
Most people at 84 are deep into retirement, maybe picking up a hobby like birdwatching or complaining about the price of eggs. Ron Isley? He’s still headlining shows, still recording new music, and still dressing better than guys a third of his age. It’s honestly kind of wild. When he stepped onto the stage at the Madam Walker Center in mid-2025, he wasn't just "there for a paycheck." He was hitting high notes that singers in their 20s struggle with.
Why People Are So Confused
Part of the confusion about how old is ron isley comes from his "Mr. Biggs" era. Back in the 90s and early 2000s, Ron reinvented himself as a sleek, salt-and-pepper-haired Don in music videos with R. Kelly and Kelly Price. He looked mature then, but he also looked timeless. Because he’s had that same sophisticated "elder statesman" vibe for thirty years, it feels like he hasn't aged a day since 1995.
Then there’s the sheer length of his career.
Most artists are lucky to have a "decade." The Isley Brothers have had six. Actually, seven if you're counting. They are the only musical act in history to have a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in six consecutive decades. Think about that. They were charting when Eisenhower was President, and they were still charting when smartphones took over the world.
A Journey That Started in the Church
Ron wasn't always the smooth "Between the Sheets" crooner. He started out singing gospel at the age of two. He was a literal child prodigy, winning a $25 war bond in a spiritual music contest when he was just a toddler. By the mid-1950s, he and his brothers—O'Kelly, Rudolph, and Vernon—formed a quartet.
Tragedy struck early when Vernon was killed in a bicycle accident in 1955. It nearly broke the family. But they pushed through, moved to New York, and eventually gave the world "Shout" in 1959.
- 1959: "Shout" becomes a massive hit.
- 1962: They release "Twist and Shout," which later gets covered by some little-known band called The Beatles.
- 1964: They hire a young guitarist named Jimi Hendrix. Yes, that Jimi Hendrix.
- 1969: "It’s Your Thing" cements them as funk royalty.
The Secret to Staying Relevant at 84
A lot of legacy acts get stuck in a "greatest hits" loop. They tour the same ten songs for forty years until the nostalgia wears thin. Ron Isley is different. He’s a shapeshifter.
He didn't just survive the transition from doo-wop to soul, or soul to funk, or funk to disco. He led it. When hip-hop arrived, he didn't complain about "real music" being dead. Instead, he became the most sampled voice in the genre. From Ice Cube’s "It Was a Good Day" (sampling "Footsteps in the Dark") to The Notorious B.I.G.’s "Big Poppa" (sampling "Between the Sheets"), Ron Isley is the literal foundation of 90s rap.
He’s still doing it. In 2022, he teamed up with Beyoncé for a remake of "Make Me Say It Again, Girl." It wasn't a "legacy" feature where he did a two-second cameo. He held his own with the biggest pop star on the planet. More recently, in 2025, he released "THE ATL EXPERIENCE" with 2 Chainz.
✨ Don't miss: Is Tom Orr Still Alive: What Most People Get Wrong
What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume he’s younger because his voice hasn't "cracked" or thinned out. Usually, when singers hit their 80s, the lung capacity goes, and the range shrinks. While there’s a slight, natural rasp to his voice now, that signature "Isley falsetto" is still very much intact.
Another misconception? That he’s the only Isley Brother left. While he is the last surviving original member of the 1950s trio (O'Kelly passed in 1986 and Rudolph in 2023), he still performs with his younger brother, Ernie Isley. Ernie joined the group in the 70s and is a legendary guitarist in his own right. Seeing them together is like watching a living history book of Black music.
The Health and Resilience Factor
It hasn't all been smooth sailing. Ron has dealt with a stroke in the mid-2000s and a high-profile stint in prison for tax evasion. Most people would have folded. But Ron Isley has this weird, quiet resilience. He came out of those situations, married Kandy Johnson (who is significantly younger than him, which also adds to the "young at heart" energy), and went right back to work.
He’s currently living in a way that challenges how we think about aging in entertainment. He isn't a "relic." He’s a contemporary artist who just happens to have 70 years of experience.
Seeing the Legend Today
If you get a chance to see The Isley Brothers live in 2026, take it. Seriously. There aren't many opportunities left to see someone who literally helped invent Rock and Roll and then helped define Modern R&B.
To keep up with Ron, your best bet is following the official Isley Brothers social media channels or checking tour dates on platforms like Ticketmaster. They still tour frequently, especially during the summer festival circuit. If you want to dive deeper into his modern work, check out the Make Me Say It Again, Girl album from 2022—it’s a perfect bridge between his classic sound and modern production.
Basically, Ron Isley is 84, but his influence is ageless.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen: Stream the 2022 album Make Me Say It Again, Girl to hear how his voice sounds today compared to the 1970s classics.
- Watch: Find the 2021 Verzuz battle between The Isley Brothers and Earth, Wind & Fire on YouTube to see his stage presence in his 80s.
- Verify: Check the latest tour dates on the official Isley Brothers website, as they are still actively performing across the US in 2026.