Roy Ayers, the iconic American vibraphonist, composer, and jazz-funk pioneer, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 84, his family confirmed.
The music legend died in New York City after a prolonged illness, though no specific cause of death was immediately disclosed. “He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed,” his family stated on Facebook.
Dubbed the “Godfather of Neo-Soul,” Ayers had an illustrious career spanning over four decades. He was best known for his 1976 hit “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” released with his band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity.
Born in Los Angeles, Ayers was immersed in music from a young age. His mother, Ruby Ayers, was a piano teacher, while his father, Roy Sr., was a trombonist. According to his biography, he showed musical talent early, playing boogie-woogie tunes on the piano at five and later experimenting with instruments like the steel guitar, flute, trumpet, and drums before mastering the vibraphone.
By the 1960s, Ayers had become a seasoned musician, collaborating with jazz great Herbie Mann. He transformed the vibraphone’s shimmering tones into a signature sound, moving away from traditional jazz and exploring spacey, groove-heavy compositions. Keyboardist Philip Woo once recalled Ayers’ intuitive approach, saying, “He had one chord, which he would move around all over the place, very intuitively.”
Ayers’ influence extended beyond jazz, impacting contemporary hip-hop and R&B. He collaborated with artists like Kanye West and contributed to film scores, most notably composing the soundtrack for the 1973 blaxploitation classic Coffy, which launched Pam Grier’s career.
“Everybody Loves the Sunshine” has amassed over 130 million streams on Spotify and has been sampled or covered by major artists, including Mary J. Blige and Tupac. Rolling Stone praised Ayers’ work for blending “lush soul, elastic jazz, and tight funk.”
His family requested privacy during this time, adding that a celebration of his life would be announced soon.
Source: Swifteradio.com
