Roy Ayers

Roy Edward Ayers Jr. (September 10, 1940 – March 4, 2025) was an American vibraphonist, record producer, and composer.<ref name="RCJE">Template:Cite book</ref> Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several studio albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped to pioneer jazz-funk.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> He was a key figure in the acid jazz movement,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> and has been described as "The Godfather of Neo Soul".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was best known for his compositions "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", "Running Away", and "Freaky Deaky" and others that charted in the 1970s.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> At one time, Ayers was listed among the performers whose music was most often sampled by rappers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life

Roy Edward Ayers Jr. was born in Los Angeles on September 10, 1940.<ref name=":0" /><ref name = Henkin>Template:Cite news</ref> He grew up in a family of musicians, where his father played trombone and his mother played piano.<ref name=ALLMUSIC>Template:Cite web</ref> At the age of five, he was given his first pair of vibraphone mallets by Lionel Hampton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The area of Los Angeles that Ayers grew up in, South Park (later known as South Central), was at the center of the Southern California Black music scene.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He attended Thomas Jefferson High School that formed a formative part of the Central Avenue jazz scene.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> During high school, Ayers sang in the church choir<ref>Maxwell, Michele. "Roy Ayers: A Musical Perfectionist." Hyde Park Citizen Jan. 1, 2000: 24. Print.</ref> and fronted a band named the Latin Lyrics, in which he played steel guitar and piano.<ref>Nichol, Alan. "Ayers Rocks." Evening Chronicle January 1, 2005, 01B ed.: 2. Print.</ref> His high school, Thomas Jefferson High School, produced various talented musicians, such as Dexter Gordon.

Career

1960s–1980s

Ayers started recording as a bebop sideman in 1962. In 1963, he released his debut studio album West Coast Vibes featuring a collaboration with the saxophonist Curtis Amy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He rose to prominence when he dropped out of Los Angeles City College<ref>Shuler, Deardra. "Roy Ayers Sampled by Major Hip Hop Artists", New York Beacon, January 1, 2006: 28. Print.</ref> and joined jazz flautist Herbie Mann in 1966.<ref>Massimo, Rick. "The Sound of Music – Roy Ayers Has That Jazz Vibe Going". The Providence Journal, January 1, 2005: F.23. Print.</ref>

In the early 1970s, Ayers formed his own band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, a name he chose because ubiquity meant a state of being everywhere at the same time.<ref>Shuler, Deardra. "Roy Ayers: Everybody Loves His 'SunshineTemplate:'", New York Amsterdam News, January 1, 2010: 23. Print.</ref>

Ayers was responsible for the highly regarded soundtrack to Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation film Coffy, which starred Pam Grier. He played Elgin in Idaho Transfer the same year. He later moved from a jazz-funk sound to R&B, as heard on Mystic Voyage (1975), which featured the songs "Evolution" and the underground disco hit "Brother Green (The Disco King)", as well as the title track from his studio album Everybody Loves the Sunshine (1976).

In 1977, Ayers produced an album by the group RAMP, Come into Knowledge. That fall, he had his biggest hit with "Running Away".

In late 1979, Ayers scored his only top ten single on Billboard's Hot Disco/Dance chart with "Don't Stop the Feeling", which was also the leadoff single from his studio album No Stranger to Love (1980). The title track was sampled in Jill Scott's 2000 song "Watching Me" from her debut studio album Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1.

In the late 1970s, Ayers toured Nigeria for six weeks with Afrobeat innovator Fela Kuti, one of Africa's best known musicians.<ref>"An Open Letter from Roy Ayers", The Indianapolis Recorder, January 1, 1980: 10. Print.</ref> In 1980, Phonodisk released Music of Many Colors in Nigeria, featuring one side led by Ayers' group and the other led by Africa '70.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1981, Ayers produced a studio album for the singer Sylvia Striplin, Give Me Your Love (Uno Melodic Records, 1981).<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> That same year he released his own studio album, Africa, Center of the World, on Polydor Records along with James Bedford and Ayers's bassist William Henry Allen. Allen can be heard talking to his daughter on the track "Intro/The River Niger". The album was recorded at the Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia, PA.

In 1982, Ayers collaborated with Rick James for the album Throwin' Down, appearing in the opening track "Dance Wit' Me" in a vibraphone solo. They are said to have been close friends.<ref>Siobhan, Kane. "No Wonder Everyone Wants to Sample the Great Vibes of Roy Ayers: Ayers Is Pivotal in Funk and Jazz, and Has Stories of Working with Fela Kuti and Rick James". Irish Times, January 1, 2014: 13. Print.</ref>

In 1984, he released the studio album In the Dark, released by Columbia Records and produced by bassist Stanley Clarke. The album produced the 12" single release "Love Is in the Feel" which, along with other tracks on the album, promoted the use of a LinnDrum, an instrument which gained enormous popularity among pop and jazz-funk musicians from 1982 to 1985. At this time Ayers' music was promoted extensively by UK BBC Radio 1 disc jockey (DJ) Robbie Vincent.

Ayers performed a solo on John "Jellybean" Benitez's production of Whitney Houston's "Love Will Save the Day" from her second multi-Platinum studio album Whitney. The single was released in July 1988 by Arista Records.

Ayers has played his live act for millions of people across the globe, including Japan, Australia, England, and other parts of Europe.<ref>Thomas, Don. "Roy Ayers Is Definitely Lyrically Correct With 'Spoken WordTemplate:'", New York Beacon, January 1, 1998: 26. Print.</ref>

Ayers was known for helping to popularize feel-good music in the 1970s. He stated "I like that happy feeling all of the time, so that ingredient is still there. I try to generate that because it's the natural way I am".<ref>White, Tony. "Warm Vibes Flow in the Sunshine of Roy Ayers", American Red Star, January 1, 1998: B.9. Print.</ref> This philosophy was reflected throughout all his musical output, whether it was funk, salsa, jazz, rock, soul or hip-hop.<ref>Thomas, Don. "Vibist Roy Ayers: As Jazzy As Ever", New York Beacon, January 1, 1995: 27. Print.</ref>

1990s–2020s

File:Roy Ayers @ Becks Music Box (12 2 2011) (5457445713).jpg

Ayers performing in Perth, Australia, 2011

In 1992, Ayers released two studio albums, Drive and Wake Up, for the hip-hop label Ichiban Records.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" /> In 1993, he appeared on the record Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol. 1, playing vibraphone on the song "Take a Look (At Yourself)". The following year he appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, intended to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in the African-American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time magazine.

During the 2000s and 2010s, Ayers ventured into house music, collaborating with such stalwarts of the genre as Masters at Work and Kerri Chandler. He founded two record labels, Uno Melodic and Gold Mink Records. The first released several studio albums, including Sylvia Striplin's, while the second folded after a few singles.<ref name="ALLMUSIC" />

File:Roy Ayers 2019 Glastonbury Festival 09 crop.jpg

Ayers playing a MalletKAT at the Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, Somerset, England, 2019

In 2004, Ayers put out a collection of unreleased recordings called Virgin Ubiquity: Unreleased recordings 1976–1981, which allowed fans to hear cuts that did not make it onto the Polydor albums from his more popular years.<ref>Richens, Mark. "Collection of unreleased recordings from Ayers Proves his vibe mastery". The Commercial Appeal, January 1, 2004: G30. Print.</ref> He also worked in collaborations with soul singer Erykah Badu and other artists on his 2004 album Mahogany Vibes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Ayers hosted the fictitious radio station "Fusion FM" in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV (2008).

In 2015, he played vibraphone on Tyler, the Creator's fourth studio album Cherry Bomb on the track "Find Your Wings".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He continued to perform live until 2023.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life and death

Ayers married his wife Argerie in the early 1970s and together they had three children.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He also had a son, the writer Nabil Ayers, with a woman who asked to have a child with no strings attached.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His daughter Ayana had also been managing him recently until his death.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ayers died at a hospital in Manhattan, New York, on March 4, 2025, at the age of 84, after suffering from a long illness.<ref name = Henkin/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and influence

A documentary, The Roy Ayers Project, featuring Ayers and artists who had sampled his music or had been influenced by him and his music, had been in development for several years. The Roy Ayers Project was rebranded as "Roy Ayers Connection", highlighting Ayers and all the people and things he was connected to.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Pharrell Williams cited Ayers as one of his key musical heroes.<ref>Butler, Kate. "Roy Ayers: [Final 5 Edition]." Sunday Times January 1, 2004: 39. Print.</ref>

Ayers was a recipient of the Congress of Racial Equality Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>"Jazz Great Roy Ayers to Perform at PJC." Pensacola News Journal January 1, 2006: B.1. Print.</ref>

Discography

As leader

• West Coast Vibes (United Artists, 1963)<ref name=AyersDiscog>Roy Ayers (b. 1940) Discography. American funk, soul and jazz vibraphone player, composer and producer. Discogs.</ref>
• Virgo Vibes (Atlantic, 1967)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Stoned Soul Picnic (Atlantic, 1968)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Daddy Bug (Atlantic, 1969)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• All Blues (Roy Ayers Quartet, Columbia, 1969)<ref name=AyersQuartDisc/>
• Unchain My Heart (Roy Ayers Quartet, Columbia, 1970)<ref name=AyersQuartDisc>Roy Ayers Quartet Discography. Discogs.</ref>
• Ubiquity (Polydor, 1970)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Live at the Montreux Jazz Festival (Polydor, 1972)
• He's Coming (Polydor, 1972)<ref name=AyersAllMusic>Roy Ayers Discography. AllMusic.</ref>
• Virgo Red (Polydor, 1973)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Red Black & Green (Polydor, 1973)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Coffy (1973)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Change Up the Groove (Polydor, 1974)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Mystic Voyage (Polydor, 1975)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• A Tear to a Smile (Polydor, 1975)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Daddy Bug & Friends (Atlantic, 1976)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Everybody Loves the Sunshine (Polydor, 1976)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Vibrations (Polydor, 1976)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Lifeline (Polydor, 1977)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• You Send Me (Polydor, 1978)<ref name=AyersDiscog/><ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Step in to Our Life (Polydor, 1978)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Starbooty (Elektra, 1978)<ref>Starbooty LP (Item 27625) Elektra, 1978. note: "Recorded around the same time as the RAMP album." Dusty Groove.</ref>
• Let's Do It (Polydor, 1978)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Fever (Polydor, 1979)<ref name=AyersDiscog/><ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• No Stranger to Love (Polydor, 1979)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Love Fantasy (Polydor, 1980)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Africa, Center of the World (Polydor, 1981)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Feeling Good (Polydor, 1982)<ref name=AyersDiscog/><ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• Lots of Love (Uno Melodic, 1983)<ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• In the Dark (Columbia, 1984)<ref name=AyersDiscog/><ref name=AyersAllMusic/>
• You Might Be Surprised (Columbia, 1985)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• I'm the One (Columbia, 1987)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Drive (Ichiban, 1988)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Wake Up (Ichiban, 1989)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Searchin' (Jazz House, 1991)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Hot (Jazz House, 1992)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Good Vibrations (Jazz House, 1993)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• The Essential Groove Live (Jazz House, 1994)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Nasté (RCA Records, 1995)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• Mahogany Vibe (Rapster, 2004)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>
• King of the Vibes (2011)<ref name=AyersDiscog/>

External links

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