Roy Ayers, Everybody Loves the Sunshine singer and jazz-funk pioneer, dies at 84
Influential soul, jazz and funk producer and composer Roy Ayers has died at the age of 84.In a statement posted on Facebook, his family said: "It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on March 4 2025 in New York City after a long illness."They described him as "highly influential and sought after as a music collaborator."Ayers' own biggest hit was the mellow track Everybody Loves the Sunshine, which was covered by artists like d'Angelo and sampled by others including Mary J Blige and Tyler, the Creator.
But he was so much more than his best-known record. A pioneer of nu-soul and jazz funk, he was a key figure in the 90s acid jazz movement. Happy and Blurred Lines singer Pharrell Williams has described him as one of his greatest musical inspirations. Ayers had a huge influence on many RnB and hip-hop stars, particularly in the 90s, with artists like Tribe Called Quest, Mary J Blige and Jill Scott sampling his earlier work on tracks like Bonita Applebaum, My Life and Watching Me.He also worked with Guru and The Roots. Erykah Badu called him "the king of neo soul".More recently, Calvin Harris told BBC Radio 2 that Ayers "just stood out, his music is amazing and just so intricate... everything just sounds so rich and warm". Ayers performed at Glastonbury several times; his last performance there was in 2019.He also wrote and produced the soundtrack for the blaxploitation film Coffy starring Pam Grier.Ayers could play several instruments, including the flute and trumpet but he became synonymous with the vibraphone, a percussion instrument that looks similar to a xylophone but has a set of metal bars rather than wood.His other hits include Running Away and Searchin', with his band Roy Ayers Ubiquity, who were also behind Everybody Loves the Sunshine.
Musical family
Roy Edward Ayers Jr was born into a musical family in Los Angeles on 10 September 1940. His mum Ruby was a school teacher and piano teacher, while his dad, Roy Sr, was a parking attendant and trombonist.Ayers began playing the piano at the age of five and went on to play several instruments and sing in the church choir before plumping for the vibraphone.Jazz star Lionel Hampton may have had something to do with that. Ayers attended a Lionel Hampton Big Band concert when he was just five. Quite taken by Ayers's enthusiasm and delight at the performance, Hampton gifted the youngster a pair of vibe mallets. Ayers formed his first group while at Jefferson High School, aptly named the Jefferson Combo, and later studied advanced music theory at college.He became a professional musician in 1961.He went on to record three albums with jazz flautist Herbie Mann before forming Roy Ayers Ubiquity and landing the hit Everybody Loves the Sunshine in 1976, from the album of the same name.His last solo album, Mahogany Vibes, featuring Badu, came out in 2004.Ayers is survived by his wife Argerie, and their children Mtume and Ayana Ayers.The Facebook post on Ayers's page added: "His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy's life will be forthcoming."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
31-05-2025
- Metro
Robin Thicke, 48, marries model fiancée, 30, after seven-year engagement
Robin Thicke and April Geary have tied the knot after a seven-year engagement. The 48-year-old singer first popped the question to the model, 30, in 2018, before getting down on one knee again just days before their nuptials. Blurred Lines hitmaker Thicke shares three children with Geary: Mia Love, five, Lola Alain, four, and Luca Patrick, two. Their ceremony was every inch as lavish as you'd expect, as the lovebirds said 'I do' in a romantic celebration in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Geary shared some videos on Instagram, showing herself in a long white lace gown with a veil for the occasion, while Thicke wore a classic tuxedo. A guest also posted a video showing Thicke walking down the aisle to Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, with youngest Luca sweetly serving as 'ring security'. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The newlyweds also made sure to include a tribute to Thicke's late father, who died in 2016 at the age of 69. A seat on the front row was left empty for Alan Thicke, as Geary's video showed the chair with 'In Loving Memory Of Alan Thicke' printed on the back of it. The game show host and comedian collapsed while playing ice hockey with his son, Carter, where he was wheeled out on a stretcher and pronounced dead later that day, the cause cited as type-A aortic dissection. Thicke was close with his father, writing on Instagram earlier this year for his birthday that he 'misses [him] every day'. His wedding to Geary comes shortly after he asked for her hand in marriage again while in Cannes. She posted on Instagram: 'Robin surprised me during our trip to Cannes by proposing to me again with a new ring that one of my best friends @nikkiwhatnikkiwho @establishedjewelry made. I'm so obsessed with it, thank you!!!' 'This trip was such a dream. I love you so much @robinthicke Also a huge thank you to @alilasky for clearing out the whole area and making sure there wasn't a single person getting in the way', her caption continued. The pair first began dating in 2014, several months after the pop star separated from his wife of 10 years, Paula Patton, with whom he shares son Julian Fuego, 14. At the 2015 Cannes Film Festival, they made their first public appearance together, two months after Thicke and Patton's marriage was officially dissolved. Speaking about his new relationship, Thicke revealed in 2021 that they were going to therapy, having found it useful to get an outsider's perspective on matters. He said during an interview with the Black Girls Texting podcast: 'Therapy is not for everybody all the time, but it definitely opens barriers for us, even just to go once or twice. 'If you're struggling in your relationship, one visit, one conversation with a third party can change things.' He added: 'Couples therapy has been great for me and April, and it's been great for me and Paula in co-parenting. More Trending 'We've had a few sessions and it's really helped for us, so I am a total believer in therapy.' Then, in 2024, Thicke spoke to People about their wedding plans, saying getting hitched was a 'priority'. 'My relationship with April continues to grow beautifully as we've matured into three-time parents together,' he added. 'She's really the most amazing woman a man could ask for.' Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Ricky Gervais risks backlash once more with dicey jokes in Hollywood Walk of Fame speech MORE: Trump reveals if he's willing to pardon ex-pal Diddy if convicted of sex trafficking MORE: Dolly Parton reveals 'mixed emotions' about new tribute musical
Daily Mirror
31-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Robin Thicke marries April Love Geary in lavish sun-soaked ceremony
Robin Thicke and his long-term fiancé April Love Geary have finally tied the knot seven years after the Blurred Lines singer popped the question for the first time Congratulations are in order for Robin Thicke and his long-term fiancé April Love Geary, who tied the knot yesterday. Robin, 48, and April, 30, got married in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico surrounded by their family and friends to celebrate their big day. April, who looked stunning in a white laced dress and veil reposted pictures and videos from guests to her Instagram story. Alongside a photo of the happy couple, one guest penned: "I love, love. Especially real, raw, resilient love." In the picture, Robin could be seen wearing a black suit with a white flower lapel. In one video, an empty chair on the front row could be seen with a sign that read: "In Loving Memory Of Alan Thicke." The seat was left empty for the singer's father, Alan who died in 2016. Another snippet from the big day adorably showed the couple's son Luca Patrick, four, walking down the aisle with his dad as ring bearer. Matching his dad in a black tux, two-year-old Luca held a brief case which read: "Ring Security". Robin and April are also parents to daughters Mia Love, seven, and Lola Alain, six. Robin originally proposed to April in December 2018, while the model was pregnant with their first child, Mia. In a picture posted on social media, an overjoyed April could be seen smiling in front of a Christmas tree. 'YES YES 1000x YES,' she wrote at the time. The proposal came four years after the pair met at a party in 2014. The couple made their debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, two months after Thicke's divorce with his ex-wife Paula Patton was finalised. Fittingly, the Magic singer re-proposed to his then fiancé in Cannes just days before they tied the knot in Mexico. Announcing the news five days ago in a joint post with fiancé Robin, April shared a photo dump of the engaged couple dressing in all-white attire while standing on the step of the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Cannes, France. "Robin surprised me during our trip to Cannes by proposing to me again with a new ring that one of my best friends @nikkiwhatnikkiwho @establishedjewelry made, I'm so obsessed with it, thank you!!!," she wrote in the caption. "This trip was such a dream. I love you so much @robinthicke Also a huge thank you to @alilasky for clearing out the whole area and making sure there wasn't a single person getting in the way."
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Daily Record
Stirling Uni lecturer sets Radio One 'abuzz' with special Taylor Swift cover
Listeners to the Radio One Breakfast Show were treated to an extra special version of one of the pop star's top hits - all from the perspective of a wasp. A Stirling University lecturer played a star turn on the biggest radio show in the country this morning when she shared her extra-special cover - from the perspective of a wasp. Dr Rebecca Boulton is a lecturer in the university's School of Biological and Environmental Sciences who studies the evolution and mating practices of insects. However, she took her mission to spread the gospel about the positives of the often ill-regarded pests to the airwaves of Greg James' Radio One show and treated listeners to her version of Taylor Swift's 'Anti Hero'. Rebecca and host James sang along to the extra-special version - performed from a wasp's perspective - which was first penned by the lecturer and her friend for the Edinburgh Fringe. On the show, she explained about her work and also said the aim of the song was to "change the reputation" of wasps. After singing together live on air, James said to the Stirling expert: "Becky, that is so good, I love you for that and I love your brain. "Not only are you a lecturer, but you're a fun lecturer and that means you've changed the world!"# He then invited Rebecca back on to the show to perform more of her bizarre catalogue, including one track which she says discusses the topic of insect genitalia to the tune of Robin Thicke's song 'Blurred Lines'. On her personal page, Dr Boulton describes herself as an "evolutionary ecologist interested in how animals find mates, how many times they mate, and who they mate with". She continues: "I work with parasitoid wasps which are ecologically and economically very important. "Many parasitoid species attack pest species like aphids and caterpillars; healthy populations of parasitoid wasps can reduce and even eliminate the need for using chemical pesticides."
