Post by Emerald City on Oct 18, 2004 13:32:44 GMT -5
IRS: Paying Taxes Not Isley's Thing
By Charlie Amter
By Charlie Amter
R&B star Ronald Isley is going to have to fight the power--of the IRS.
The founding member of the Isley Brothers has been indicted for evading taxes by the government's most dreaded agency. The IRS alleges Isley has been avoiding paying taxes by depositing his dead brother's royalty checks, buying personal cars using a business account and paying band members in cash to keep the transactions off the books, authorities said Thursday.
The soul singer is officially charged with five counts of tax evasion (covering the years from 1997 to 2002) and one count of failing to file a return.
Isley, who suffered a stroke in July, has yet to respond to the IRS' allegations.
The feds contend that the singer was involved in a host of deceptive practices. Among the most d**ning of the charges, the agency says the 63-year-old singer deposited royalty checks for his own use that had been issued to other members of the Isley Brothers, including his dead brother, O'Kelly.
This isn't the first time Ronald Isley has been in trouble with the man. Not only did he silky-voiced soul man known as "Mr. Biggs" apparently forgot to file taxes over the last few years, he declared bankruptcy after the IRS seized his yacht and millions of dollars worth of other property in 1997.
Isley is best known for his smooth vocals that have graced Isley Brothers hits for the better part of 40 years. The group got its start in 1951, but it wasn't until their 1959 debut for RCA, "Shout," that the band started to sell well. "Shout" went on to move a million units, despite virtually no support from radio.
The Isleys scored hits in the 1960s with their 1962 cover of the Top Notes classic "Twist and Shout" and their 1965 Motown classic "This Old Heart of Mine."
After landing a Top 10 hit with 1969's "It's Your Thing," the Isleys had their greatest success in the 1970s, scoring such R&B/funk hits as "Who's That Lady" and "Fight the Power (Part 1)" before moving toward a more disco sound as the decade ended.
Following a smattering of albums and a brief breakup in the 1980s, the Isleys regrouped in 1990. Their most recent studio release was 2003's chart-topping Body Kiss; a remix album, Taken to the Next Phase was released in August.
Ronald Isley's latest solo album, released last year, was a collaboration with Burt Bacharach titled Here I Am.
The singer is expected to answer the charges against him in an early November court appearance.
The founding member of the Isley Brothers has been indicted for evading taxes by the government's most dreaded agency. The IRS alleges Isley has been avoiding paying taxes by depositing his dead brother's royalty checks, buying personal cars using a business account and paying band members in cash to keep the transactions off the books, authorities said Thursday.
The soul singer is officially charged with five counts of tax evasion (covering the years from 1997 to 2002) and one count of failing to file a return.
Isley, who suffered a stroke in July, has yet to respond to the IRS' allegations.
The feds contend that the singer was involved in a host of deceptive practices. Among the most d**ning of the charges, the agency says the 63-year-old singer deposited royalty checks for his own use that had been issued to other members of the Isley Brothers, including his dead brother, O'Kelly.
This isn't the first time Ronald Isley has been in trouble with the man. Not only did he silky-voiced soul man known as "Mr. Biggs" apparently forgot to file taxes over the last few years, he declared bankruptcy after the IRS seized his yacht and millions of dollars worth of other property in 1997.
Isley is best known for his smooth vocals that have graced Isley Brothers hits for the better part of 40 years. The group got its start in 1951, but it wasn't until their 1959 debut for RCA, "Shout," that the band started to sell well. "Shout" went on to move a million units, despite virtually no support from radio.
The Isleys scored hits in the 1960s with their 1962 cover of the Top Notes classic "Twist and Shout" and their 1965 Motown classic "This Old Heart of Mine."
After landing a Top 10 hit with 1969's "It's Your Thing," the Isleys had their greatest success in the 1970s, scoring such R&B/funk hits as "Who's That Lady" and "Fight the Power (Part 1)" before moving toward a more disco sound as the decade ended.
Following a smattering of albums and a brief breakup in the 1980s, the Isleys regrouped in 1990. Their most recent studio release was 2003's chart-topping Body Kiss; a remix album, Taken to the Next Phase was released in August.
Ronald Isley's latest solo album, released last year, was a collaboration with Burt Bacharach titled Here I Am.
The singer is expected to answer the charges against him in an early November court appearance.
