Jazz, along with neo-soul, mourns the passing of its legendary performer. Roy Ayers, who created two iconic albums known as Everybody Loves the Sunshine and No Stranger to Love, died at the age of 84. The smooth melodies from his vibraphone and his jazz-funk and neo-soul influences made Ayers one of the key musicians shaping the coming generations. The public mourning for Roy Ayers gained attention because of a revealing detail regarding his passing.
A Heartfelt Family Statement
His official Facebook account verified the sad news on Wednesday, March 5, that highlighted the New York City death of the legend as he succumbed to illness one day before that dreadful news.
“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,” the statement read.
The family further shared,
“He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family asks that you respect their privacy at this time. A celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming.”
The Godfather of Neo Soul
The musical moniker Godfather of Neo Soul fit Roy Ayers well after he started his career in 1962 before he created Roy Ayers Ubiquity as his group in 1970. Through the second part of the decade, the band succeeded in music charts by releasing two prominent albums titled Mystic Voyage (1975) and Everybody Loves the Sunshine (1976).
A Lasting Legacy
Roy Ayers started his solo career and achieved his most successful chart position in 1980 with No Stranger to Love reaching position No. 22 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Through the years, his musical impact evolved past jazz to affect the development of hip-hop, funk, and neo-soul. Multiple generations of artists used his music as samples to pass his creative spirit into new modern musical productions. Roy Ayers leaves behind his wife, Argerie, and his children, Mtume and Ayana Ayers, as his survivors. The world pays tribute to a musical pioneer through its grief, yet his vibrations remain unfading.
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