‘Everyone Loves the Sunshine’ Musician Used to be 84

Roy Ayers, the mythical jazz vibraphonist identified for his hit “Everyone Loves the Sunshine” and sampled through numerous artists, died on the age of 84.

In a commentary shared with Selection, the Ayers circle of relatives mentioned that he died the day prior to this after affected by an extended sickness. “It’s with nice disappointment that the circle of relatives of mythical vibraphonist, composer, and manufacturer Roy Ayers announce his passing which came about on March 4, 2025 in New York Town after an extended sickness,” they mentioned, describing him as “extremely influential and wanted as a track collaborator.”

All over his profession, Ayers established himself as a pioneer of jazz-funk and used to be in large part influential at the neo-soul motion. As a solo artist, he launched dozens of albums through the years, relationship way back to 1963, and scored his greatest hit “Everyone Loves the Sunshine” together with his crew Roy Ayers Ubiquity. The musician’s songs had been sampled through everybody from Mary J. Blige and Commonplace to Tyler, the Author and Kanye West, and he collaborated with musicians together with the Roots, Guru, Fela Kuti and Rick James.

Ayers used to be born in Los Angeles in 1940 and grew up in a musical family. He used to be impressed to soak up the vibraphone after seeing Lionel Hampton’s Large Band on the age of 5, and took piano classes and sang within the church choir. At 17, he used to be proficient his first vibraphone and attended Los Angeles Town Faculty to review complex track idea. He made his recording debut with saxophonist Curtis Amy within the early Nineteen Sixties, and signed his first contract with United Artists to unlock his debut album “West Coast Vibes” in 1963.

He teamed with jazz flutist Herbie Mann to document 3 albums for Atlantic Information — “Virgo Vibes,” “Stoned Soul Picnic” and “Daddy Malicious program” — sooner than partnering with Polydor, the place he endured to unlock track. In 1973, he wrote and produced the soundtrack for the blaxploitation movie “Coffy” starring Pam Grier. All over this period, he shaped Roy Ayers Ubiquity and scored his greatest hit with “Everyone Loves the Sunshine,” the identify observe from their 1976 album. Up to now, that music has greater than 130 million Spotify streams, and has been lined through a spread of artists together with D’Angelo, Jamie Cullum and Robert Glasper.

Within the many years that adopted, he launched information and shaped two labels, Uno Melodic and Gold Mink Information. His final solo album “Mahogany Vibe,” got here out in 2004, and featured visitor appearances from Betty Wright, Kamilah and Erykah Badu. In 2015, he made a visitor look on Tyler, the Author’s observe “To find Your Wings” and two years later carried out on the rapper’s Camp Flog Gnaw pageant.

A part of his enduring legacy may also be credited to the numerous affect he had on hip-hop and R&B musicians. His solo songs and information he produced had been sampled for many years, including a heat, mellifluous tone to tracks together with Mary J. Blige’s “My Lifestyles,” A Tribe Referred to as Quest’s “Bonita Applebaum” and Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s “Get Cash.”

Ayers is survived through his spouse Argerie, and their kids Mtume and Ayana Ayers.