Roy Ayers, Godfather of Neo Soul, Dead at 84

Roy Ayers, the pioneering jazz-funk musician best known for his song “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” has died at the age of 84.

“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,” read a post on the musician’s Facebook. “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, who was born in Los Angeles on September 10th, 1940, released his debut album, West Side Vibes, in 1963, and collaborated with jazz legend Herbie Mann on a number of recordings. After releasing a handful more solo jazz albums in the ’60s, he formed his band Roy Ayers Ubiquity, developing his signature jazz-funk sound.

His signature song “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” appeared on Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s 1976 album of the same name. Recognizable by its innovative drone synth note, it’s one of the most sampled tracks of all time, making its way into songs by Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and Mos Def, among others.

On creating the song, Ayers told The Guardian in 2017, “It was so spontaneous. It felt wonderful. And I knew exactly how I wanted it to sound: a mix of vibraphone, piano and a synthesizer.”

Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, Ayers scored a number of hits on the R&B charts, including “Running Away,” “Freaky Deaky,” and “Let’s Start Love Over,” among others.

Roy Ayers Ubiquity released their final album in 1978, but Ayers continued to release solo albums into the early 2000s. He played vibraphone on the song “Cleva” on Erykah Badu’s 2000 album, Mama’s Gun. He also lent his musical skills to tracks by the likes of Alicia Keys, The Roots, and Tyler, The Creator, among others.

Ayers would come to be known as the “Godfather of Neo Soul” for his lasting musical influence on artists like Badu and D’Angelo, among others.

Our condolences go out to Roy Ayers’ family and friends during this difficult time. Watch him performing “Everybody Love the Sunshine” at the 2019 Glastonbury festival and hear the original version below.