This week, Ernie Isley, a highly skilled guitarist and a member of the iconic band The Isley Brothers, was presented with well-deserved recognition by The Guitar Center Music Foundation.
On Thursday (April 4), the foundation held its second annual benefit concert and fundraiser at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. During the event, Isley was presented with the organization’s lifetime achievement award.
Explore
Explore
View the most recent videos, charts, and news updates.
View the most recent videos, charts, and news updates.
“I feel incredibly honored to be a part of this amazing opportunity as Ernie’s impact has been greatly overlooked for a considerable period of time,” expressed Vernon Reid, founder of the rock band Living Colour, who presented the award and is also a guitarist-songwriter.
He stated, “It’s been delayed for such a long time that it’s absurd. This is not only a form of justice, but also well-deserved. When I was young, I used to read guitar magazines and notice Duane Allman and Dicky Betts featured on the covers. I even saw Rory Gallagher, whom I adore, on a cover. However, the one person who influenced me the most was never featured in those magazines, and that person is Mr. Ernie Isley.”
Trending on Billboard
Before the award ceremony, various artists accompanied by a band led by Greg Phillinganes, the evening’s music director, keyboardist, and arranger, paid tribute to Isley through music. Reid himself delivered an energetic performance of the Isley Brothers’ 1975 powerful and funky song “Fight the Power, Part 1” with Phillinganes taking on the vocal duties.
Guitarist Ray Parker Jr., also known as Mr. Ghostbuster, received enthusiastic applause and ovations for his performance with the band on the soulful track “Groove With You” from 1978. Toto co-founder Steve Lukather joined in with his impressive guitar solo on the Isleys’ 1974 cover of the Seals and Crofts’ classic “Summer Breeze”. Additionally, Melanie Faye displayed her impressive guitar skills on the Isleys’ slow jam “Footsteps in the Dark”, a song from 1977 written and performed by Ernie Isley.
Returning all notifications and comments in English:
On stage, Alex Isley, a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, referred to her father Ernie as her favorite writer ever. She then performed a heartfelt rendition of her father’s 1976 composition, “(At Your Best) You Are Love.” The band and accompanying singers started the evening with another 1976 release by the Isley family, the enduringly relevant “Harvest for the World.”
Rounding out the evening were video tributes from a host of artists and musicians. Among them: Nile Rodgers, Chaka Khan, Narada Michael Walden, Sheryl Crow, Carlos Santana and H.E.R. (“I’ve been a huge fan since I was a little girl; thank you for paving the way four artists like me”). Sharing his congrats as well was percussionist Pete Escovedo, who received The Guitar Center Music Foundation’s inaugural lifetime achievement award last year. The evening also included a silent and live auction featuring such items as a Bruno Mars-signed guitar and a day-long studio session with Grammy-winning engineer Val Garay.
Ernie expressed gratitude for the endurance and musical talents of his Isley Brothers siblings – O’Kelly Jr., Rudolph, Ronald, Vernon, and Marvin. He humbly acknowledged the prestigious honor and privilege they had received, but struggled to find the right words to fully describe their appreciation, simply saying “thank you.”
His comments were followed by a video clip from brother Ronald who noted, “Didn’t I tell you that you’d be the greatest; the one to represent the family. That’ you’d be one of the greatest guitar players there is and one of the greatest songwriters? You know I love you. Congratulations, son. You finally made it!” Ernie then picked up his guitar, joined by Reid, Grammy-nominated singer Eric Benét and the band, and rocketed into a powerful performance of one of the Isleys’ top signature songs, “That Lady.”
The funds generated from The Guitar Center Music Foundation’s yearly fundraiser are allocated for the purpose of supporting music education and music therapy. David Helfant serves as the chairman of the board. The event’s production was overseen by William Hammond, the founder and president of Hammond Entertainment.