Product Code Database
Roy Edward Ayers Jr. (September 10, 1940 – March 4, 2025) was an American vibraphonist, record producer, and composer. 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. He was a key figure in the acid jazz movement, and has been described as "The Godfather of Neo soul". He was best known for his compositions "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", "Running Away", and "Freaky Deaky" and others that charted in the 1970s. At one time, Ayers was listed among the performers whose music was most often sampled by rappers.
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.Shuler, Deardra. "Roy Ayers: Everybody Loves His 'Sunshine, New York Amsterdam News, January 1, 2010: 23. Print.
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 .
In the late 1970s, Ayers toured Nigeria for six weeks with Afrobeat innovator Fela Kuti, one of Africa's best known musicians."An Open Letter from Roy Ayers", The Indianapolis Recorder, January 1, 1980: 10. Print. In 1980, Phonodisk released Music of Many Colors in Nigeria, featuring one side led by Ayers' group and the other led by Africa '70.
In 1981, Ayers produced a studio album for the singer Sylvia Striplin, Give Me Your Love (Uno Melodic Records, 1981). 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.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.
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 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.Thomas, Don. "Roy Ayers Is Definitely Lyrically Correct With 'Spoken Word, New York Beacon, January 1, 1998: 26. Print.
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".White, Tony. "Warm Vibes Flow in the Sunshine of Roy Ayers", American Red Star, January 1, 1998: B.9. Print. This philosophy was reflected throughout all his musical output, whether it was funk, salsa, jazz, rock, soul music or hip-hop.Thomas, Don. "Vibist Roy Ayers: As Jazzy As Ever", New York Beacon, January 1, 1995: 27. Print.
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. 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.Richens, Mark. "Collection of unreleased recordings from Ayers Proves his vibe mastery". The Commercial Appeal, January 1, 2004: G30. Print. He also worked in collaborations with soul singer Erykah Badu and other artists on his 2004 album Mahogany Vibes.
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". He continued to perform live until 2023.
Ayers died at a hospital in Manhattan, New York, on March 4, 2025, at the age of 84, after suffering from a long illness.
Pharrell Williams cited Ayers as one of his key musical heroes.Butler, Kate. "Roy Ayers: Final." Sunday Times January 1, 2004: 39. Print.
Ayers was a recipient of the Congress of Racial Equality Lifetime Achievement Award."Jazz Great Roy Ayers to Perform at PJC." Pensacola News Journal January 1, 2006: B.1. Print.
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.
Discography
As leader
External links
Categories: 1940 Births, 2025 Deaths, African-american Male Singer-songwriters, American Male Singer-songwriters, American Dance Musicians, American Jazz Vibraphonists, American Funk Singers, American Rhythm And Blues Singers, Musicians From Los Angeles, Muse Records Artists, Soul-jazz Musicians, Polydor Records Artists, Ichiban Records Artists, Verve Records Artists, Atlantic Records Artists, Singer-songwriters From California, Fela Kuti, 20th-century African-american Male Singers, 20th-century American Male Singers, 20th-century American Singers, 21st-century African-american Male Singers, 21st-century American Male Singers, Barely Breaking Even Artists
|
|
