AssetID: 54580430
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Roy Ayers dead at 84
Caption: Roy Ayers dead at 84. The legendary jazz vibraphonist whose hit song has been sampled by countless artists, died at the age of 84. In a statement, the Ayers family announced that he passed away on Tuesday after suffering from a long illness. ”It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on 4 March 2025 in New York City after a long illness.” The family described him as a "highly influential and sought after as a music collaborator”. Part of his legacy is the significant influence he had on past and current hip-hop and R&B musicians. Ayers was known as the Godfather of Neo Soul and his songs have been sampled for decades by the likes of Mary J Blige, Common, Kanye West, A Tribe Called Quest, Junior MAFIA and Tyler, the Creator. Throughout his career, Ayers established himself as a pioneer of jazz-funk and was hugely influential on the neo-soul movement. As a solo artist, he released dozens of albums, dating back to 1963. He scored his biggest hit Everybody Loves the Sunshine with his group Roy Ayers Ubiquity. Ayers is survived by his wife, Argerie, and their children Mtume and Ayana. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
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