Roy Ayers, a vibraphonist and jazz great best known for his hit singles “Running Away” and “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” died Tuesday, his family said. He was 84.
Ayers passed away on March 4, in New York City after a long illness, the family announced on Facebook. “He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed,” the post read.
No cause of death was given.
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Roy Edward Ayers, Jr. was born in Los Angeles on Sept., 10, 1940, according to his website. He developed an interest in music at age five and played boogie woogie songs on the piano.
As he grew older, Roy learned to play the steel guitar, flute, trumpet and drums. But the vibraphone, a percussion instrument shaped like a xylophone, with tuned metal bars, became his instrument of choice.
While a student at Thomas Jefferson High school, he formed his first musical group. Ayers became part of L.A.’s famed Central Avenue jazz scene, and studied music theory at Los Angeles City College.
With hit songs that included “Running Away,” “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” and “Searching,” he earned the nickname “Godfather of Neo-Soul.”
Ayers helped pioneer jazz-funk, and his music was frequently sampled by DJs, hip-hop producers, and chart-topping performers including Mary J. Blige and Common.
In 2018, he performed an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. The YouTube description for the concert said he “sauntered through the office with a Cheshire grin on his face, sharing jokes with anyone within earshot.”
He began his set with “Searching,” before launching into “Black Family” and “Everybody Loves The Sunshine.”
In a tribute article after his death, Rolling Stone said Ayers “paved the way for neo-soul.”
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