Roy Ayers, beloved for "Everybody Loves the Sunshine," dies at 84

 Roy Ayers, beloved for "Everybody Loves the Sunshine," dies at 84

Roy Ayers, the legendary vibraphonist, composer, and jazz-funk pioneer best known for “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” has died at 84.

According to a statement posted on his Facebook page, Ayers passed away Tuesday in New York City after a long illness.

Born on September 10, 1940, in Los Angeles to a musical family, Ayers’ journey seemed destined from the start. At just five years old, he danced with such enthusiasm at a Lionel Hampton concert that the iconic vibraphonist handed him his first set of mallets—a moment his parents described as receiving "spiritual vibes."

Ayers first made his mark in the 1960s Los Angeles hard-bop scene, but it was in the 1970s that he developed his signature sound. With his group Roy Ayers Ubiquity—named after his 1970 album Ubiquity—he blended funk grooves, soulful horns, smooth vocals, and jazz improvisation into a sound that perfectly captured the era's energy. Drawing influence from Miles Davis’ electric period, Ayers helped shape a movement with albums like He’s Coming (1971), Red, Black & Green (1973), and his memorable score for the Pam Grier-led blaxploitation film Coffy.

But it was his 1976 album Everybody Loves the Sunshine that solidified his place in music history. The title track, with its warm, hypnotic groove, became an enduring classic, sampled over 100 times and celebrated across generations.

“It was so spontaneous. It felt wonderful,” Ayers told The Guardian in 2017 about creating the track. “And I knew exactly how I wanted it to sound: a mix of vibraphone, piano, and synthesizer,” with congas, drums, and a hazy, nostalgic mood that evoked endless summer days.

That timeless sound has been reimagined by artists like Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and The-Dream, who have sampled Ayers’ work to create new anthems.

“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.”

And grow it did. Beyond samples, Ayers collaborated directly with a new generation of artists, including Alicia Keys, The Roots, Guru of Gang Starr, and Tyler, The Creator. His delicate, distinctive vibraphone work also graced Erykah Badu’s Mama’s Gun (2000), adding shimmering layers to the track “Cleva.” Badu once called Ayers the king of neo-soul, crediting him with helping define its smooth, soulful aesthetic.

Over five decades, Ayers’ influence stretched across genres and generations, from working with Fela Kuti and Rick James to inspiring songs by A Tribe Called Quest and Pharrell Williams.

As pianist Robert Glasper summed it up in a 2011 interview:
“It just has a Roy Ayers sound. There’s nothing you can describe. It’s just Roy Ayers.”