Roy Ayers

Roy Ayers was an American vibraphonist, composer and bandleader whose recordings joined jazz improvisation with funk, soul and dance music. After recording for Atlantic, he developed this approach with his group Ubiquity at Polydor. Albums and songs including Mystic Voyage, Everybody Loves the Sunshine, Vibrations and Running Away became central to his musical legacy.

His recordings also acquired a second life through sampling and collaboration. Artists including A Tribe Called Quest and Mary J. Blige drew on his music, while his influence extended into neo-soul and the British acid-jazz scene. That continuing circulation connected his 1970s recordings with later club and hip-hop audiences.