Ron Isley Dedicates 'At Your Best' To Aaliyah

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Ron Isley dedicated the Isley Brother's classic "At Your Best" to Aaliyah Friday (October 12) when he played the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California. The late R&B singer and actress had a hit with the song when she re-recorded it for her 1994 debut album Age Ain't Nothing But A Number.
Halfway through his 90-minute set, Isley began a monologue about Aaliyah,who died in a plane crash on August 25. "I met this young lady when she was 15," Isley said. "She said, 'Your group is my favorite group. I'm recording one of your songs. This is a favorite of mine.'"
Isley added that the two became friends, and she used the Isley's as a good luck charm, re-recording another Isley song ("Choosey Lover")on her sophomore album, One In A Million. After performing the song, Isley said, "Aaliyah, this is for you, forever."

In the latter portion of the show, Isley performed "Contagious," the R. Kelly penned and produced song in whose video R. Kelly is cheating with Isley's woman. Before playing the song, Isley noted that he doesn't have problems with women in real life. "I don't know why I keep having problems with women," he said. "But it's only in the videos." Isley is married to singer-producer Angela Winbush.

Isley closed his set with "Shout," the Isley's first hit, released in 1959. The group's latest album, Eternal, entered The Billboard 200 album chart at Number Three in August.