Roy Ayers — the pioneering American vibraphonist, producer and composer who has been described as "the Godfather of Neo Soul" — has died. News of Ayers's death was shared via his Facebook page, announcing he passed Tuesday (March 4) in New York City "after a long illness," and was further confirmed to multiple outlets by the artist's family. He was 84.
"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 Facebook announcement reads. "He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy's life will be forthcoming."
Ayers was born in Los Angeles in 1940, and grew up in a musical family. At age five, he was handed his first set of vibraphone mallets after watching a performance in L.A. "At the time, my mother and father told me he laid some spiritual vibes on me," Ayers reflected to The Los Angeles Times in 2011.
Ayers made his solo debut in 1963 with West Coast Vibes, and went on to release over 30 albums under his own name and leading the band Roy Ayers Ubiquity. The most enduring is 1976's Everybody Loves the Sunshine, its title track evoking the scenery of the season musically and lyrically. The song remained a staple of Ayers's live performances, often closing the show.
"I was recording at Electric Lady in New York, which had been Jimi Hendrix's studio. It was a beautiful, hot, sunny day and I just got this phrase in my head: 'Everybody loves the sunshine,'" Ayers reflected to The Guardian in 2017. "I started singing: 'Feel what I feel, when I feel what I feel, what I'm feeling.' Then I started thinking about summer imagery: 'Folks get down in the sunshine, folks get brown in the sunshine, just bees and things and flowers.
"It was so spontaneous. It felt wonderful. And I knew exactly how I wanted it to sound: a mix of vibraphone, piano and a synthesiser. We recorded it at night, so the sun was down, but the vibe in the studio was really nice. Pure vibes."
"Everybody Loves the Sunshine" and Ayers's catalogue continued to be discovered through the generations through the advent of sampling. His songs have been prominently sampled by A Tribe Called Quest, Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Common, Madlib, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, DJ Rashad, Nas, MF DOOM and many more.
Beyond sampling, Ayers would also collaborate with the likes of Tyler, the Creator, Erykah Badu, Gang Starr's Guru, Fela Kuti, Rick James, the Roots and Alicia Keys.