Roy Ayers, the legendary vibraphonist and jazz-funk pioneer behind “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” has died at 84. He passed away Tuesday in New York City after a long illness, according to a statement on his Facebook page.
Born in Los Angeles on September 10th, 1940, Ayers’ journey into music began at age five when vibraphonist Lionel Hampton gifted him his first mallets.
“At the time, my mother and father told me he laid some spiritual vibes on me,” he recalled in 2011.
Starting in the hard-bop scene of the 1960s, Ayers found his signature sound in the ’70s with his band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity. Blending funk grooves, soulful horns, and jazz improvisation, they shaped albums like “He’s Coming” (1971) and “Red, Black & Green” (1973). His score for “Coffy,” starring Pam Grier, also left a mark.
But it was 1976’s “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” that cemented his legacy.
“It was so spontaneous. It felt wonderful,” Ayers told The Guardian in 2017.
Sampled over 100 times, the song’s influence spans Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and The Dream. Ayers remained vital in hip-hop and R&B, collaborating with Alicia Keys, The Roots, and Tyler, The Creator. He also appeared on Erykah Badu’s “Mama’s Gun” (2000), with Badu calling him the “king of neo-soul.”
Ayers is survived by his wife Argerie, and their children Mtume and Ayana Ayers.
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