Roy Ayers, jazz-funk legend behind 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine', dies aged 84

Roy Ayers, the pioneering jazz-funk vibraphonist, record producer and composer, whose warm grooves and sun-drenched melodies shaped generations of musicians, has died at the age of 84 following a prolonged 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," a post on the musician’s official Facebook page said.

Born on 10 September 1940, in Los Angeles, California, Ayers was surrounded by music from an early age. His father played trombone, and his mother was a piano instructor. At the age of five, he received his first vibraphone mallets from the legendary bandleader Lionel Hampton, setting the stage for a lifelong passion for the instrument.

Nicknamed the "Godfather of Neo Soul", he began his recording career in 1963 with the album 'West Coast Vibes', and gained prominence after joining jazz flautist Herbie Mann in 1966.

In the early 1970s, he formed Roy Ayers Ubiquity, blending jazz, funk, and soul to create his own unique, feel-good sound. His 1976 hit 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' became an instant classic, recognisable for its laidback groove and slightly distorted opening synthesizer riff.

“I just got this phrase in my head,” he told The Guardian in 2017. “‘Everybody loves the sunshine.’ I started singing: ‘Feel what I feel, when I feel what I feel, what I’m feeling.’ Then I started thinking about summer imagery … It was so spontaneous. It felt wonderful.”

“The song changed everything for me,” Ayers said. “It’s still the last song of my show. People always join in and it’s been sampled over 100 times, by everyone from Dr Dre to Pharrell Williams. It seems to capture every generation. Everybody loves the sunshine – except Dracula.”

Throughout his six-decade career, Ayers released numerous albums, composed the soundtrack for Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation film Coffy, toured Nigeria for six weeks with Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, and produced a beloved album by the group RAMP, titled 'Come into Knowledge'.

He also brought his vibraphone prowess to the track 'Find Your Wings' on Tyler, the Creator's fourth studio album 'Cherry Bomb', and had his own fictional radio station on the popular video game Grand Theft Auto IV.

Similar to others legend likes of James Brown, Bobby Caldwell and Isaac Hayes, Ayers' music has left its imprint on other contemporary genres, particularly inspiring crate diggers in hip-hop. 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine' has been reworked countless times, notably in Mary J. Blige’s 'My Life', Common’s 'Book of Life', and Dr. Dre’s 'My Life'.

"It's wonderful, the desire young people express for my music," Ayers told Dummy in 2016. "It's wonderful because I'm still growing in popularity."

Other hip-hop artists who have sampled Ayers include A Tribe Called Quest, J. Cole, Mos Def and Joey Bada$$, while dance music legends such as drum and bass icon Roni Size and house pioneer Armand Van Helden have also incorporated his sun-kissed sound into their tracks.

Ayers continued to perform with passion and a smile on his face well into his early 80s. If like many you're mourning his loss today, take a moment to check out his incredibly uplifting Tiny Desk performance from 2018.

"The true beauty of music is that it connects people," Ayers once said. "It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers."