Roy Ayers died, one of the greatest jazz-funk vibraphonists

Roy Ayers, one of the greatest vibraphonists in the history of Jazz-Funk, died on March 4, 2025 in New York at the age of 84, after a long illness. The news of his death was confirmed by the family on social media.

Starting from the Hard pop, Ayers in the 70s revolutionized the fusion with its Roy Ayers Ubiquity, bringing a sound that mixed soul, funk and jazz, and making itself appreciated even outside the circle of fans of the genre. Among his most famous hits, “Running Away” (1977) and “Hot” (1985) hit the American R&B charts.

His compositions, perfect for sampling, have become a fundamental material for hip hop. Songs like “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” have been taken up in pieces by legendary artists such as Mary J. Blige, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest, Kanye West, Common, Tyler the Creator and many others, witnessing his lasting influence.