Jazz, soul and funk vibraphonist supreme, ROY AYERS died on Tuesday March 4th, in New York. He was aged 84. His loss adds to the lengthening list of soul stalwarts that we have lost already in 2025. This latest sad news was announced by Roy’s family: “It 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. He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming.”
Ayers was born in Los Angeles, a scion of a musical family – his mother was a local piano instructor and his father a trombonist. Thus young Roy took to music with ease, learning piano at an early age before graduating to the vibraphone. His first real pro gig was playing alongside Herbie Mann but by the end of the 60s he struck out on his own leading his band, Ubiquity. Through the 70s their output was prolific and he enjoyed considerable success with his unique melding of soul, jazz and dance flavours with his 1976 LP, ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’ generally considered his apogee. The title track has been covered, sampled and remixed countless times. Amongst his other popular tracks is ‘Don’t Stop The Feeling’.
Simultaneous with his own music making, Ayers also worked as a producer and label owner with Uno Melodic and as hip-hop, house music and neo-soul evolved, artists in all those genres found inspiration in the vibraphonist’s back catalogue. Indeed he was often referred to as the “Godfather of Neo-soul” as the worked with genre giants like Mary J. Blige, A Tribe Called Quest and Erykah Badu.
In the 21st century much of Ayers new music had a dance vibe though jazz remained close to his heart – his collaboration LP with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad, ‘Jazz Is Dead’ was critically acclaimed.
Ayers toured regularly and he was especially popular in the clubs and festivals of the UK and Europe.
