Christopher Howard Jasper (born December 30, 1951)

Allmusic biography AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

/ref> is an American singer, composer, and producer. Jasper is a former member of

the Isley Brothers The Isley Brothers ( ) are an American musical group originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, that began as a vocal trio consisting of brothers O'Kelly Isley Jr., Rudolph Isley and Ronald Isley in the 1950s. With a career spanning over seven decades, ...

and

Isley-Jasper-Isley Isley-Jasper-Isley was a splinter group of the Isley Brothers formed in 1984 by brother-in-law Chris Jasper (keyboards), Ernie Isley (lead guitar), and Marvin Isley (bass), due to creative differences that arose among the group. Jasper, a cla ...

and is responsible for writing and producing the majority of the Isley Brothers music (1973–1983) and Isley-Jasper-Isley music (1984–1987). He is also a successful solo

musician A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who wri ...

and record producer, recording over 17 of his own solo albums, including 4 urban contemporary gospel albums, all written, produced and performed, both vocally and instrumentally, by Jasper. He also produces artists for his New York City-based record label, Gold City Records. Jasper's keyboard and

Moog synthesizer The Moog synthesizer is a modular synthesizer developed by the American engineer Robert Moog. Moog debuted it in 1964, and Moog's company R. A. Moog Co. (later known as Moog Music) produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 20 ...

work was a primary ingredient of the Isley Brothers' sound of the 1970s and 1980s (the "gold and platinum" years) when the Isley Brothers were a self-contained band.

Biography

Jasper is a classically trained musician and composer. The youngest of seven siblings, he started studying classical music at the age of 7 at the suggestion of his mother, Elizabeth. After graduating from high school in Cincinnati, he moved to New York to study music composition at the

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most el ...

of Music in New York City. He continued his studies at C.W. Post,

Long Island University Long Island University (LIU) is a private university with two main campuses, LIU Post and LIU Brooklyn, in the U.S. state of New York. It offers more than 500 academic programs at its main campuses, online, and at multiple non-residential. LIU ...

, New York, where he studied with

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

pianist and composer

Billy Taylor Billy Taylor (July 24, 1921 – December 28, 2010) was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and from 1994 was the ...

and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in music composition. He subsequently graduated from Concord University School of Law. The Jasper and Isley families lived in the same apartment complex in Cincinnati. While still living in Cincinnati, Jasper's older sister, Elaine, married Rudolph Isley. His vocal trio formed by the three older brothers, Rudolph, Ronald and O'Kelly, subsequently relocated to

Teaneck, New Jersey Teaneck () is a Township (New Jersey), township in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States census, 2010 U.S. census, th ...

. While living temporarily in Teaneck with his sister as a young teenager and attending

Teaneck High School , motto_translation = To enrich the mind and improve the character , fundingtype = Public , schooltype = high school , grades = 9– 12 , district = Teaneck Public Schools , enrollment = 1,239 (as of 2021–22) , faculty = ...

, Jasper and the two younger Isleys, Marvin and Ernie, formed a band, "The Jazzman Trio" with Jasper on keyboards, Ernie on drums, and Marvin on bass.Archived Interviews
, ChrisJasper.com, May 1, 2013. Accessed June 15, 2015. "My sister, Elaine, married Rudolph Isley so we became linked by marriage too. Elaine and Rudolph lived in Teaneck, New Jersey and I'd visit in the summers and I even spent my junior year at Teaneck High School." The band played local gigs in the New Jersey area. Along with Jasper, Marvin and Ernie also attended C.W. Post College in New York. While still in college, Jasper, Ernie, and Marvin toured with the older Isley Brothers and played on the earlier recordings, including "It's Your Thing". Jasper's first of many songs written for the Isley Brothers was "Love Put Me on a Corner" released on the Isleys' ''Brother, Brother, Brother'' album in 1972. In 1973, Jasper, Marvin, and Ernie brought the songwriting and musical component to the older Isley Brothers' vocal trio, transitioning the Isley Brothers into a self-produced, self-contained six-member R&B/Funk band. Their debut release during this time was the ''3+3'' album. Although all six members of the Isley Brothers are credited as songwriters of the music from the 3+3 era, this was a business arrangement and does not reflect the creative reality. Jasper was the primary songwriter, producer, and arranger of The Isley Brothers music from 1973 (''3+3'') through 1983 (''Between the Sheets''), with contributions by younger members Ernie and Marvin Isley. ''Between The Sheets'' was their final album as a six-member group. Jasper's arrangements, instrumentation, and unique chord structures as a classically trained musician have been credited as the foundation of the legendary "Isley Brothers sound", which Jasper has continued in his own solo recordings. In 1984, the six-member group disbanded, primarily due to tax and other financial problems that did not involve the younger members of the group. Jasper, Marvin, and Ernie decided to remain with CBS and record as "Isley-Jasper-Isley" while the older Isley brothers departed the label and unsuccessfully sued the younger brothers and CBS Records in an attempt to prevent the younger brothers from recording for CBS.

was a self-contained, self-produced trio with Jasper as lead singer and continuing his role as the primary songwriter, producer, and arranger. The trio released three albums on CBS Records. Jasper wrote and sang lead on the group's biggest

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

, "

Caravan of Love "Caravan of Love" is a 1985 R&B hit originally recorded by Isley-Jasper-Isley, the second half of the Isley Brothers' ''3 + 3'' lineup of the 1970s. Original Isley-Jasper-Isley version After breaking away from the family group, the group (nota ...

", which was covered by English recording artist the Housemartins, who made the song a #1 international hit. In 1987, Isley-Jasper-Isley disbanded when Ernie Isley resigned from the group, left CBS, and released a solo album on another label. Marvin Isley rejoined The Isley Brothers and toured with the band. Ernie Isley later rejoined the older brothers and currently tours with brother

Ronald Ronald is a masculine given name derived from the Old Norse ''Rögnvaldr'',#H2, Hanks; Hardcastle; Hodges (2006) p. 234; #H1, Hanks; Hodges (2003) § Ronald. or possibly from Old English ''Regenweald''. In some cases ''Ronald'' is an Anglicised ...

billing themselves as "The Isley Brothers". Jasper continued on as a solo artist and released two albums on his CBS-Associated label, Gold City Records, including the #1 R&B hit "Superbad" in 1988, a song which emphasized the importance of education, a theme Jasper continues to emphasize in many of the songs he has written since his days with the Isleys. In 1989, Jasper wrote, produced and performed on "Make It Last" for

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...

's '' CK'' album. To date, Jasper has released 16 solo albums, including 4 gospel albums. Jasper's January 2013 release titled ''Inspired: By Love, By Life, By The Spirit'' was a compilation of love songs as well as socially conscious and spiritual tracks. In May 2014, he released ''The One'', reminiscent of the soulful R&B and funk music he wrote for the Isleys. In 2016, he released ''Share With Me'' with a cover of the Billy Preston hit, "You Are So Beautiful", and a track called "America", a tribute to the nation and a call to come together. In April 2018, Jasper pre-released a double-A single "The Love That You Give/It's a Miracle" from his 15th solo CD ''Dance With You''. In 2019, Jasper released a "covers" album entitled "For The Love Of You" which included versions of some of the songs Jasper wrote for The Isley Brothers, including the title track, as well as some well-known R&B and pop classics, including renditions of Sam Cooke's "Nothing Can Change This Love," Marvin Gaye's "God Is Love," and Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately." Jasper has continued to write, record, and perform all the music on his solo albums and produce artists for his Gold City label, including Liz Hogue, Out Front, and Brothaz By Choice. The most recent addition to the Gold City label is Jasper's son, Michael Jasper, a songwriter, recording artist, and screenplay writer. In 2015, in conjunction with Sony Music, Jasper released the ''Essential Chris Jasper'', which encompasses all of the tracks that Jasper sang lead on during the Isley-Jasper-Isley years and his solo career at CBS/Sony Music. The music Jasper wrote for the Isley Brothers has been covered and sampled by numerous new and established recording artists, including Whitney Houston, Aaliyah, Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Queen Latifah, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, Gwen Stefani, Fantasia, Will Smith, and Jaheim. Jasper has received numerous gold and platinum albums and music industry awards. Jasper, along with the other members of the Isley Brothers, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

Billboard.com biography ''Billboard'' (stylized as ''billboard'') is an American music and entertainment magazine published weekly by Penske Media Corporation. The magazine provides music charts, news, video, opinion, reviews, events, and style related to the music ...

/ref> In January 2014, Jasper and the Isley Brothers were honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2015, Jasper received the German Record Critics Lifetime Achievement Award ("Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik"). In 2016, Jasper was awarded the National R&B Society Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2020, Jasper was awarded the Soultracks Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2021, Jasper will be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Jasper lives in New York with his wife of 39 years, Margie Jasper, a New York-based attorney and author.

Discography

Isley Brothers years

* '' 3+3'' (CBS) 1973 * '' Live It Up'' (CBS) 1974 * '' The Heat Is On'' (CBS) 1975 * ''

Harvest for the World ''Harvest for the World'' is the fourteenth studio album released by The Isley Brothers on their T-Neck imprint on May 29, 1976. The album was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set ''The RCA Victor & T-Neck Albu ...

'' (CBS) 1976 * ''

Go for Your Guns ''Go for Your Guns'' is the fifteenth album by the Isley Brothers. Released on April 16, 1977, on their T-Neck label, it was also the band's fifth album to be distributed by their deal with Epic. Released in mid-April 1977, the album peaked a mo ...

'' (CBS) 1977 * ''

Showdown A showdown is a duel. The term may also refer to: Places * Showdown Ski Area, in Montana, United States Books * ''Showdown'' (Amado novel), a 1984 novel by Jorge Amado * ''Showdown'' (Dekker novel), a 2006 novel by Ted Dekker * ''Showdown'' (F ...

'' (CBS) 1978 * '' Winner Takes All'' (CBS) 1979 * '' Go All the Way'' (CBS) 1980 * ''

Grand Slam Grand Slam most often refers to: * Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category te ...

'' (CBS) 1981 * ''

Inside You ''Inside You'' is the 20th album by The Isley Brothers released on T-Neck Records on December 1, 1981. The album was remastered and expanded for inclusion in the 2015 released CD box set ''The RCA Victor & T-Neck Album Masters, 1959-1983''. R ...

'' (CBS) 1981 * '' The Real Deal'' (CBS) 1982 * '' Between the Sheets'' (CBS) 1983

Isley-Jasper-Isley years

* ''

Broadway's Closer to Sunset Blvd ''Broadway's Closer to Sunset Blvd'' is the 1984 debut album of Isley-Jasper-Isley on CBS/Magic Sound Records. Marvin Isley announced the record as a separate project from the Isley Brothers rather than a permanent break up. "Look the Other Way" re ...

'' (CBS) 1984 * ''

'' (CBS) 1985 * '' Different Drummer'' (CBS) 1986

Solo career

* Superbad (Gold City/CBS Associated) 1988 * Time Bomb (Gold City/CBS Associated) 1989 * Praise the Eternal (Gold City) 1992 * Deep Inside (Gold City) 1994 * Faithful & True (Gold City) 2002 * Best of Chris Jasper...With Love (Gold City) 2003 * Amazing Love (Gold City) 2005 * Invincible (Gold City) 2007 * Everything I Do (Gold City) 2010 * Inspired...By Love, By Life, By The Spirit (Gold City) 2013 * The One (Gold City) (2014) * Thank You Jesus (Gold City) (2015) * The Essential Chris Jasper (Sony Legacy) (2015) * Share With Me (Gold City) (2016) * Happy Birthday Love (Gold City) (2017) * I Love You (Boogie Back Remix-UK) (Gold City) (2017) * That's What Love Can Do (Boogie Back Remix-UK) (Gold City) (2017) * Dance with you (Gold City) (2018) * For The Love Of You (Gold City) (2020) * Raise The Bar (Gold City) (2022)

Production credits

* Vicious & Fresh (Liz Hogue) (Gold City/CBS) 1989 * Out Front (Out Front) (Gold City) 1995 * Brotha 2 Brotha (Brothaz By Choice) (Gold City) 1998 * "Make It Last" (on

's '' ck'' album) (WB) 1989 * Addictive (Michael Jasper) (Gold City) 2010 * Make It (Michael Jasper) (Gold City) (2016) * Dreams (Michael Jasper) (Gold City) (Upcoming 2022)

References

External links

Chris Jasper on Facebook

Chris Jasper's Youtube Channel

Gold City Records

Official Website of Michael Jasper

Chris Jasper 2010 Audio Interview at Soulinterviews.com

Chris Jasper 2012 Audio Interview at Soulinterviews.com

Chris Jasper Interview - NAMM Oral History Library (2013)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jasper, Chris 1951 births Living people African-American Christians African-American male singers American male singers African-American pianists American male organists American funk keyboardists American funk singers American soul keyboardists American soul singers Musicians from Cincinnati Musicians from New Jersey Teaneck High School alumni The Isley Brothers members American male pianists 21st-century organists 21st-century American keyboardists 20th-century American keyboardists American organists