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Roy Ayers, legendary 'Everyone Loves the Sunshine' musician, dies at 84
Born in Los Angeles, the artist was known as a pioneer of jazz-funk.
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Roy Ayers, the legendary vibraphonist and musician behind 1976âs album âEverybody Loves the Sunshine,â has died. He was 84.
The musical artistâs family shared the news on Ayersâ Facebook on March 5, expressing their âgreat sadness.â
âIt 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,â the statement reads. âHe lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed.â
The statement noted that his family asks that people respect their privacy at this time. âA celebration of Royâs life will be forthcoming,â the message concluded.
Born in Los Angeles in September 1940, Ayers grew up around a musical background and loved music from a young age.
âIf I didnât have music I wouldnât even want to be here,â Ayers told the Los Angeles Times in 2011. âItâs like an escape when there is no escape. An escape for temporary moments.â
Roy Ayers, U.S. funk, soul and jazz composer and vibraphone player, during a live concert performance at the Kool Jazz Festival, at the Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, in July 1976. David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images / RedfernsHe 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.
âAt the time, my mother and father told me he laid some spiritual vibes on me,â Ayers said at the time, adding that later he picked up the vibraphones at age 17.
âItâs funny, I started playing vibes when I was 17 and I still love it. The only difference now is that Iâve turned the 17 around to 71,â Ayers told the outlet.
With a career spanning over six decades, Ayers released his first album âWest Coast Vibesâ in 1963, followed by records like âVirgo Vibesâ (1967) and âStoned Soul Picnicâ (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.Â
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