Overview
- Roy Ayers, known as the 'Godfather of Neo-Soul,' passed away on March 4, 2025, at the age of 84, after a long illness, his family confirmed.
- Ayers' music, including the iconic track 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine,' has been sampled over 960 times by artists like Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige, and A Tribe Called Quest.
- He was a pioneer in bridging jazz, funk, and hip-hop, collaborating with artists such as Tyler, the Creator, Talib Kweli, and The Roots throughout his six-decade career.
- Born in Los Angeles, Ayers began playing the vibraphone as a teenager and went on to lead Roy Ayers Ubiquity, contributing to the acid jazz movement of the 1970s.
- Tributes from major figures in music, including Questlove, Pete Rock, and DJ Premier, celebrate Ayers' enduring impact on modern music and his collaborative spirit.