Roy Ayers, pioneer musician behind Everybody Loves the Sunshine, dies aged 84

The statement goes on to say: “He spent 84 wonderful years alive, and he’ll be deeply missed. His relatives kindly request some privacy right now; details for a tribute to Roy’s life will be shared later.

Throughout his professional journey, Ayers put out approximately a dozen albums, beginning with his first album titled “West Coast Vibes” which was launched in 1963.

Later on, he established his own band called Roy Ayers Ubiquity, where he honed a unique blend of jazz and funk music, with him playing the vibraphone.

Previously, Ayers shared that his passion for playing an instrument was sparked when he met jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton at the age of five and received a pair of mallets from him, inspiring him to learn the instrument.

In a 2011 interview with The Los Angeles Times, I shared that during that period, my parents had conveyed to me that this individual was emanating a strong, spiritual energy towards me.

1976 saw the release of Ayer’s most renowned single, “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” a jazz track that has since been extensively sampled and remains one of the genre’s most frequently used tunes.

In a 2017 interview with The Guardian, he described the creation of his hit as being incredibly spontaneous and delightful. He had a clear vision for its sound: a blend of vibraphone, piano, and synthesizer. Despite recording it at night when the sun was down, the atmosphere in the studio was pleasant and positive, exuding pure energy.

Ayers is survived by his wife, Argerie, and their children, Mtume and Ayana Ayers.