Roy Ayers, the highly influential vibraphonist, composer, and pioneer of jazz-funk, has died at the age of 84 in New York City after a prolonged illness. The news was shared on his official Facebook page by his family, who have requested privacy during this time and announced that a celebration of his life will be forthcoming. Ayers’s unique blend of jazz, funk, and soul has left an indelible mark on music, inspiring countless artists across genres and solidifying his status as a legend. Born on September 10, 1940, in Los Angeles, California, Ayers was immersed in music from a young age. His father played trombone, and his mother was a piano instructor, fostering his early exposure to musical instruments and performance. At the age of five, a pivotal moment occurred when he attended a Lionel Hampton concert and was so captivated that Hampton gifted him his first pair of vibraphone mallets. This experience ignited a lifelong passion for the vibraphone, which would become his signature instrument. Ayers honed his skills and deepened his understanding of music theory at Los Angeles City College.

Ayers began his recording career in 1963 with the album “West Coast Vibes,” showcasing his early talent as a bebop sideman. His career gained momentum when he joined jazz flautist Herbie Mann in 1966. In the early 1970s, Ayers formed his own band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, which became the vehicle for his groundbreaking fusion of jazz, funk, and soul. The band’s name reflected Ayers’s vision of music being accessible and present “everywhere at the same time”. This period saw the creation of his signature sound, characterized by warm grooves, soulful horns, and intricate jazz harmonies. In 1973, Ayers composed and produced the soundtrack for the blaxploitation film Coffy, starring Pam Grier, further demonstrating his versatility and expanding his audience. His unique sound, which Robert Glasper called simply “a Roy Ayers sound”.

The year 1976 marked a turning point in Ayers’s career with the release of “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” a track that would become his most recognizable and enduring hit. The song’s laid-back groove and distinctive synthesizer riff captured the zeitgeist of the era and resonated with audiences worldwide. “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” has been sampled extensively, appearing in over 100 songs by artists such as Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and The-Dream. Ayers described the creation of the song as “spontaneous” and perfect for blending vibraphone, piano, and synthesizer. Beyond “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” Ayers achieved crossover R&B success with tracks like “Running Away,” which reached the Billboard R&B Top 20 in 1977, and “Hot,” which achieved a similar milestone in 1985. His influence extended to various genres, earning him the nickname “Godfather of Neo Soul”.

Ayers’s impact on music extends beyond his own recordings. His work has been sampled by a diverse array of artists, including Tupac, Björk, A Tribe Called Quest, Junior M.A.F.I.A., Mary J. Blige, The Roots, Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Common, Tyler, the Creator, J Dilla, Snoop Dogg and many more. He also collaborated with numerous artists, including Tyler, the Creator, on “Find Your Wings” and Erykah Badu on “Cleva”. Ayers continued to release albums throughout his career, including his final solo album, “Mahogany Vibe,” in 2004, and a collaboration with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, “Roy Ayers JID002,” in 2020. Ayers is survived by his wife, Argerie, and his children, Mtume and Ayana Ayers. His legacy as a pioneering force in jazz-funk and a profound influence on popular music will continue to inspire generations of musicians and fans.