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NBC News
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Roy Ayers, legendary ‘Everyone Loves the Sunshine' musician, dies at 84
Roy Ayers, the legendary vibraphonist and musician behind 1976's album 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine,' has died. He was 84. The musical artist's family shared the news on Ayers' Facebook on March 5, expressing their 'great sadness.' 'It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on March 4th, 2025 in New York City after a long illness,' the statement reads. 'He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed.' The statement noted that his family asks that people respect their privacy at this time. 'A celebration of Roy's life will be forthcoming,' the message concluded. Born in Los Angeles in September 1940, Ayers grew up around a musical background and loved music from a young age. 'If I didn't have music I wouldn't even want to be here,' Ayers told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. 'It's like an escape when there is no escape. An escape for temporary moments.' He shared how when he was 5-years-old he received his first set of mallets from vibraphonist and percussionist Lionel Hampton while at the Paramount Theater. 'At the time, my mother and father told me he laid some spiritual vibes on me,' Ayers said at the time, adding that later he picked up the vibraphones at age 17. 'It's funny, I started playing vibes when I was 17 and I still love it. The only difference now is that I've turned the 17 around to 71,' Ayers told the outlet. With a career spanning over six decades, Ayers released his first album 'West Coast Vibes' in 1963, followed by records like 'Virgo Vibes' (1967) and 'Stoned Soul Picnic' (1968), among dozen others. Ayers became known as a pioneer in jazz-funk, with a slew of musicians sampling his music. He would go on to collaborate with R&B and hip-hop artists like Alicia Keys, Erykah Badu, The Roots Mary J. Blige and Tyler, The Creator, among many others.
Express Tribune
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Roy Ayers, jazz-funk legend behind ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine,' dies at 84
Listen to article Roy Ayers, the legendary jazz-funk musician, composer, and vibraphonist, has died at the age of 84 in New York City after a long illness, his family announced. A statement on his official Facebook page read: "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. He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family asks for privacy at this time, and a celebration of Roy's life will be forthcoming." Trailblazer in jazz-funk Born September 10, 1940, in Los Angeles, Ayers emerged as a pioneering force in jazz-funk, soul, and neo-soul, leaving an indelible mark on modern music. His musical journey began in the early 1960s, when he released his debut album, 'West Coast Vibes' (1963). Over the years, he developed his signature jazz-funk sound, gaining prominence as a vibraphonist, an instrument he was inspired to learn after jazz great Lionel Hampton gifted him a pair of mallets when he was just five years old. By the early 1970s, Ayers had formed his influential band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, crafting a fusion of jazz, funk, and R&B that would shape generations of musicians. 'Everybody loves the sunshine' – a timeless classic In 1976, Ayers released his most famous track, 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine', a laid-back, warm-weather anthem that remains one of the most sampled jazz recordings in history. Reflecting on the song's creation, Ayers told The Guardian in 2017 that it was written spontaneously during a hot summer day at Electric Lady Studios in New York. "I just got this phrase in my head: 'Everybody loves the sunshine,'" he recalled. "I started singing: 'Feel what I feel, when I feel what I feel, what I'm feeling.' Then I started thinking about summer imagery … It was so spontaneous. It felt wonderful." The track's influence spans generations, with artists such as Mary J. Blige ('My Life'), Common ('Book of Life'), and Mos Def ('Life Is Real') incorporating elements of it into their own work. It has been sampled over 100 times, with Dr. Dre, Pharrell Williams, and many others drawing inspiration from its smooth, hypnotic groove. "The song changed everything for me," Ayers once said. "It's still the last song of my show. People always join in, and it captures every generation. Everybody loves the sunshine – except Dracula." Prolific career and lasting legacy By the time 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' was released, Ayers had already recorded more than a dozen albums, earning him the title 'Godfather of Neo Soul.' His influence extended beyond his own music, shaping hip-hop, R&B, and electronic music through collaborations and sampling. Even in his later years, Ayers remained a festival favorite, headlining events worldwide, including London's Maiden Voyage Festival in 2019. With a career spanning over six decades, Ayers' contributions to music transcend genres and generations, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to resonate in jazz, funk, and soul for years to come.
