Roy Ayers, legendary vibraphonist, composer, and jazz-funk pioneer known for "Everybody Loves the Sunshine," passed away on March 4, 2025, in New York City at age 84 after a long illness.

Photo Credit: Roy Ayers by Stuart Sevastos / CC by 2.0

Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Ayers' musical journey began at age five when vibraphonist Lionel Hampton gifted him his first pair of mallets during a concert. This encounter would shape his future in music, as he later recalled to the Los Angeles Times in 2011.

In the 1970s, Ayers found his signature sound with his band Ubiquity, combining soulful horns, funk grooves, and jazz improvisation. His 1976 hit "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" became his most recognized work, performed countless times over the decades and covered by numerous artists including D'Angelo and the Robert Glasper Experiment.

The influence of Ayers' music extends far beyond jazz, with his work being sampled by hip-hop and R&B artists including Tupac Shakur, Mary J. Blige, and Dr. Dre. Modern collaborations with artists like Alicia Keys, The Roots, Tyler the Creator, and Erykah Badu (who dubbed him the "king of neo-soul") cemented his legacy across generations.

"It's wonderful, the desire young people express for my music," Ayers said in 2016. "It's wonderful because I'm still growing in popularity."

A celebration of Roy's life will be held at a future date, according to his family's statement.

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