‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’ & Roy Ayers!

We misplaced one in all music’s legendary figures this week, as information broke that the vibraphonist, document producer, and composer Roy Ayers handed away on the age of 84. Proceed studying to be taught extra concerning the musical icon and his impression.

In keeping with BOSSIP, Roy Ayers was born in Los Angeles, California, the place he grew up in a musical household. His father performed trombone, and his mom performed piano. He was given his first vibraphone mallets on the age of 5. Ayers grew up in South Central (as soon as referred to as South Park), which was on the middle of the Southern California Black music scene. Whereas he attended Thomas Jefferson Excessive College, he sang within the church choir and performed metal guitar and piano for a band he fronted named the Latin Lyrics.

In 1962, Ayers started recording as a bebop sideman. The next yr, he launched his debut studio album, West Coast Vibes. Though he was making a reputation for himself, it wasn’t till he dropped out of Los Angeles Metropolis Faculty and joined jazz flautist Herbie Mann in 1966. Subsequent, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, his personal band, was fashioned within the early Seventies. After spearheading the extremely regarded soundtrack for  Jack Hill’s 1973 blaxploitation movie Coffy, Ayers moved from a jazz-funk sound to R&B. The albums Mystic Voyage (1975) and Everyone Loves the Sunshine (1976) masterfully confirmed off his new sound. In 1977, he had his largest hit with “Operating Away.” Over the approaching many years, Ayers’ profession as a solo artist continued, and it’s secure to say that the remainder is historical past.

The pioneer is usually credited as one of many key figures within the improvement of jazz-funk and acid jazz. His mix of clean jazz, funk, and soul closely contributed to the evolution of Black music. Ayers’ skill to seamlessly transfer between genres saved him related over the many years, making him a beloved determine in each the jazz and broader music communities. His profession, which spanned over 5 many years, has and can proceed to encourage up to date musicians and producers. Talking of, Ayers collaborated with quite a few artists and influenced numerous extra. That affect has oftentimes led to different artists (inside music and movie/tv) continuously sampling his music and his tracks being included on tv exhibits and films. To offer him the flowers he rightfully deserves, we put collectively a gallery of R&B songs and exhibits that used a monitor that we’re all aware of, ‘Everyone Loves the Sunshine.’ Tell us which of them are your favorites and if we forgot any. Relaxation In Peace to the Godfather of Neo-Soul, Roy Ayers!