The Isaacs offer a sound that is both technically staggering and emotionally comforting. At its core, their music is built on 'blood harmony' - that specific, intuitive vocal blend that only family members can achieve. It is rooted deeply in the bluegrass tradition, featuring world-class mandolin, fiddle, and banjo work, but it breathes with a contemporary clarity that makes it accessible to fans of modern acoustic pop.
What truly distinguishes them is the bridge they build between Southern Gospel and high-lonesome bluegrass. While many groups lean into the grit of the mountains or the polish of the church, The Isaacs exist in the beautiful middle ground. Their arrangements are sophisticated, often incorporating unexpected harmonic shifts and folk-inflected melodies that reflect Lily Isaacs' unique Jewish heritage and folk background.
For those new to the group, start with their live recordings or the 'Heroes' album. You will hear a group that can transition from a sparse, haunting a cappella hymn to a driving, instrumental breakdown without losing their sense of reverence or warmth. It is music for reflection, for family, and for appreciating the sheer craft of acoustic performance.
The Isaacs are a bluegrass Southern gospel music group consisting of mother Lily Isaacs (b. September 20, 1947), daughters Becky (b. Aug. 2, 1975) and Sonya Isaacs (b. July 22, 1974) and son Ben Isaacs (b. July 25, 1972), along with John Bowman (husband of Becky Isaacs) as an instrumentalist and songwriter. Joe Isaacs, formerly a singer and banjo player in the group, has left since his 1998 divorce from Lily Isaacs. He now does solo work on a far more localized level. Baritone Tim Surrett, a former Kingsmen Quartet bass player and lead singer, was a member of The Isaacs from 1997 until 2002. Surrett was married to Sonya Isaacs during this time period. They were able to hire Jesse Stockman, a fiddle player from NM (who had been playing with the prestigious bluegrass band Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver) from 2005-2010. From 2006-2008, they hired Kevin Haynie to play banjo and guitar (Kevin is brother to Aubrey Haynie, fiddler extraordinaire who is an A-list session player in Nashville having played on hundreds of recordings). Kevin and Jesse were able to raise them to new heights instrumentally, as is evident on the "Live from Norway" DVD recorded when the two were in the group. With already unequaled vocal harmonies and now top tier instrumentalists, they recorded their first crossover album at StarStruck Studios (owned by Reba McEntire) in Nashville, with Mark Bright (Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts) as producer. This album garnered the group their first Dove Award. Thomas Wywrot was a member from 2008 to 2011. Sonya Isaacs' husband, Jimmy Yeary, took his place. Currently, The Isaacs consists of Sonya Isaacs Yeary, Lily Isaacs, Becky Isaacs Bowman and Ben Isaacs. On August 10, 2021, they were invited to become members of the Grand Ole Opry.
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