Died On This Date (March 31, 1986) O’Kelly Isley / Isley Brothers
themusicsover O’Kelly Isley
December 25, 1937 – March 31, 1986
Born on Christmas Day, 1937, O’Kelly Isley would, along with his brothers, Ronald Isley, Vernon Isley and Rudolph Isley grow up to write and record some of the greatest songs of R&B. Such hits as “Shout,” “It’s Your Thing,” and “The Lady (Part 1).” The Isley Brothers’ songs have been recorded by the, James Brown, Eric Clapton, Yardbirds, Alicia Keys, Aaliyah, the Beatles, and many many more! And who could forget the great scene in Animal House when Otis Day & The Knights’ version of “Shout!” made a great movie even better. O’Kelly Isley passed away from a sudden heart attack in 1986. He was 48.
What You Should Own
W.C. Handy was born in Florence, Alabama in a log cabin that was built by his grandfather. By the time he was a teenager he was playing both trumpet and clarinet in a band. He would become a teacher by trade and was soon writing songs that would become blues standards. His “St. Louis Blues” as recorded by 
Eazy-E was a groundbreaking rapper who, along with his group, N.W.A. was a pioneer of the gangsta rap genre. During the mid ’80s, Eazy-E co-formed N.W.A. while also starting his own label, Ruthless Records, through which he released the group’s records. In 1988, N.W.A. released their landmark album, Straight Outta Compton, which made a massive impact on both music and pop culture in general. With its hard hitting lyrics strewn with violence and profanity, it offered a glimpse of the inner city life, appealing to both urban kids and those from the suburbs alike. The album sold over three million copies and is often cited as one of the most important albums of all time. Shortly after the release of it, Eazy-E released his own Eazy-Duz-It which also sold in the multi-million copy range. N.W.A. group broke up in 1991, reportedly over money issues. Eazy-E continued to release solo albums through the early ’90s. On March 16, 1995, Eazy-E went to the hospital complaining of what he assumed were asthma-related issues. But to the shock of friends, family and fans, he was diagnosed with AIDS and died as a result of it just ten days later. He was 31 years old.
