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The Jazz and Soul music large Roy Ayers has handed away. He was 84.
Selection reviews that the Jazz vibraphonist’s household confirmed that he handed away on Tuesday, March 4, after a “lengthy sickness.”
“It’s with nice disappointment that the household of legendary vibraphonist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing which occurred on March 4, 2025 in New York Metropolis after a protracted sickness,” reads the Ayers household’s assertion. “He lived a phenomenal 84 years and will likely be sorely missed. A celebration of Roy’s life will likely be forthcoming.”
Ayers is probably finest identified for his track “Everyone Loves The Sunshine,” from his 1976 album of the identical title, which has been sampled numerous instances by Hip-Hop and R&B musicians. Ayers typically credited Mary J. Blige’s 1994 “My Life,” which liberally samples the aforementioned track, with reviving his profession and enriching his checking account.
Additionally a composer and document producer, Ayers’ deep and wealthy catalog of music has lengthy been mined for samples that bought flipped into new beats that hipped a brand new technology of listeners to his grooves. A few of these recognizable songs embody “We Dwell In Brooklyn, Child,” “Looking out,” and “Operating Away,” the place had been in flip chopped and massaged into new works from the like of Pete Rock & CL Clean, Mos Def, Kendrick Lamar. A Tribe Referred to as Quest and plenty of, many extra. Additionally notable was Ayers’ crafting of the soundtrack to the Blaxploitation traditional Coffy, which stars Pam Grier.
Certainly one of this writers favorites was Ayers connecting with The Roots on their “Proceed II.”
Relaxation in highly effective peace Roy Ayers.
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