Ayers’ family announced his death in a social media post.
Sept. 10, 1940 – March 4th, 2025
Roy Ayers, the legendary musician known for the iconic song Everybody Loves the Sunshine, has passed away at the age of 84.
His family announced his passing in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening, stating, “It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing, which occurred on March 4, 2025, in New York City after a long illness.”
The statement continued, “He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family asks that you respect their privacy at this time. A celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming.”
Born in Los Angeles, Ayers developed a passion for music at a young age. According to his website, he formed a music group while still in high school before continuing his studies in advanced music theory at Los Angeles City College. In the 1960s, he gained recognition as an award-winning jazz vibraphonist before evolving into a popular R&B bandleader in the 1970s and 1980s.
His breakthrough hit, Everybody Loves the Sunshine, was released in 1976 as part of his album of the same name, recorded with his Roy Ayers Ubiquity band.
Throughout his career, Ayers released numerous influential projects, including his 1978 album Let’s Do It, which featured gospel singer Merry Clayton on several tracks. He continued to explore new sounds with albums such as You Might Be Surprised in 1985 and Nasté in 1995.
Ayers’ innovative fusion of jazz, R&B, and funk left an enduring impact on music, influencing generations of artists.
