“Out of sight, out of mind” is how the old adage goes. Even so, it is surprising that so little is being said about Ronald Isley, one of the greatest singers in the history of Black music and the possessor of a soulful, expressive voice that is unique. (Think about it: No one sounds anything like Ron Isley.)

The durability of the Isley Brothers is amazing. They had hits spanning from 1959 into the 2000s. Such great songs as “Harvest For the World,” “Twist and Shout,” “For the Love of You,” “I Turned You On,” “Fight the Power,” “It’s Your Thing,” “That Lady,” “Shout,” “Live It Up” and “Between the Sheets,” to name a few.

Isley is, of course, serving a 37-month jail sentence in Terra Haute, Indiana, for tax evasion. He is scheduled to be released in April of 2010. I hope he gets out before that, especially considering his age (67 this month). His crime does not take away his greatness, although we are not condoning the crime.

As an artist, Ronald Isley is special.

WOW! Talk about big business at the box office! Whoever came up with the idea for the Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige co-headlining tour is to be commended. For example, when the show was presented at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., 13,672 people showed up, making it a sellout, and grossing a whopping $1,721,576.

Melinda Doolittle is, without a doubt, one of the most outstanding singers to ever be a finalist on “American Idol.” But although she was head and shoulders above the others, I was sure she wouldn’t win. She was just too mature. (Her rendition of “My Funny Valentine,” which can be seen on YouTube.com, was mesmerizing.)

It was good to hear that Melinda Doolittle’s long-awaited debut album will be released this summer.

Interestingly, the No. 1 album on the national Blues chart is by a White female singer/pianist, Marcia Ball. Almost as interesting is the title, “Peace, Love & BBQ.”

THE LAVISH praise sure is coming in for Simon Cowell discovery Leona Lewis, whose album, “Spirit,” featuring the smash single “Bleeding Love,” debuted at No. 1 on the national Pop charts.

Oprah Winfrey said, “A star is born.” Entertainment Weekly magazine described her as “one to watch in 2008.” Vibe magazine cited her as “an artist on the verge.” And Billboard magazine said Lewis is “simply stunning.”

It was great to hear Nancy Wilson say that “all is well” now, following her hospitalization for a collapsed lung.

Although she has never stopped performing, Donna Summer, the all-time queen of disco (“Hot Stuff,” “I Feel Love,” “Last Dance,” etc.) chose to stay away from recording for a long time.

“I’ve been extremely blessed,” said Summer. “That is one of the reasons I felt that I shouldn’t be out there again because there are so many people who haven’t had a chance yet, and it just clutters the market. But I just got bored.”

Summer’s new album, oddly titled “Crayons,” comes out this month. There will be some dance elements, but it will not be a “disco” album.

THAT WAS an interesting where-are-they-now? story in Jet magazine about Peaches & Herb, focusing on Herb Feemster and Linda Greene, who was “Peaches” during the late ’70s “Reunited”/“Shake Your Groove Thing” era.

But there were at least two “Peaches” between Greene and the original Peaches, Francine Barker. The first duo scored in the ’60s with, among others, “Let’s Fall in Love” and “Close Your Eyes.”

It is no secret that because of music downloading, iPods, file sharing, etc., the big record companies are taking a lot of very serious blows. But the always-candid country music superstar Dolly Parton, who released her latest album, “Backwoods Barbie,” on her own Dolly label, may have been a bit harsh.

“The majors are going down the tubes,” she said. “They’re has-beens.”

When you see embarrassing people on television like Flavor Flav and Tracy Morgan, you understand where Bill Cosby was coming from when he said in a moment of discouragement, “I wonder sometimes if the ‘The Cosby Show’ did any good.”

You never know who is going to show up on the national Dance Club Play charts. Snoop Dogg, of all people, was No. 1 recently with “Sensual Seduction.” Also on that chart is Seal, with “The Right Life,” although he is best known for ballads like “Kiss From a Rose.”

By the way, did you know that Seal’s given name is Sealhenry? (Honest!)

Even though her latest album, “Love Forever Shines,” is gospel, Regina Belle says she will still also record secular music.

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that Gladys Knight & the Pips was the first act to appear on “Soul Train” when the show went national in 1971.

MEMORIES: “Hello” (Lio-nel Richie), “Don’t Look Any Further” (Dennis Edwards, featuring Siedah Garrett), “Everlasting Love” (Carl Carlton), “Gloria” (Enchantment), “Another One Bites the Dust” (Queen), “A Fool in Love” (Ike & Tina Turner), “Hollywood” (Rufus featuring Chaka Khan), “He Made a Woman Out of Me” (Betty LaVette), “Careless Whisper” (Wham! featuring George Michael), “After the Dance” (Marvin Gaye).

BLESSINGS to Frankie Darcell, Galen Pauling, Alexis Williams, Gwen Green, Virgil Wyatt, Robert Walker, Ingrid Denise Hatcher, Debbie J. Williams, Lisa Jackson, Sheila Dawkins, Carl Jones and Erika Alexander.

WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Ann Jamerson: “What is, is.”

Let the music play!

(Steve Holsey can be reached at Svh517@aol.com and P.O. Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.)