Roy Ayers, born on September 10, 1940, in Los Angeles, California, is an acclaimed American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Often lauded as one of the prophets of acid jazz—a subgenre fusing elements of jazz, funk, and soul—Ayers has truly left an indelible mark on modern music. His career began in the 1960s when he joined the touring band of flutist Herbie Mann. By the early 70s, Ayers had formed his own band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity, focusing on a crossover of smooth jazz and funk.

Ayers is particularly known for his skill with the vibraphone, bringing the instrument into the forefront of modern music genres. Throughout his long career, he has consistently released albums that blend rich soulful grooves with a jazz-influenced thematic core, endearing him to both jazz purists and a broader audience with a taste for rhythmic innovation and harmony. His influence is widespread, providing a blueprint for neo-soul and influencing a range of musicians, particularly in hip-hop, where his work has been frequently sampled. His most recent works, showcasing remixes and reinterpretations of his classic sounds, such as "Paper in the Soul," "Good Vibes / Bad Vibes," and a series of "Virgin Ubiquity: Remixed" EPs, confirm his enduring relevance in a constantly evolving musical landscape. Roy Ayers remains an active figure in music, continually celebrating the “good vibes” that he is so well known for.

Genres

Funk

Jazz Funk

Jazz Vibraphone

Related Artists

Herbie Hancock

Donald Byrd

Lonnie Liston Smith

Erykah Badu

D'Angelo

Patrice Rushen

Bob James

The Blackbyrds

Earth, Wind & Fire

Thundercat

Ronnie Laws

Kool & The Gang

Latest Release

What's The T? (Delfonic Edit)

Roy Ayers

Single - Released March 29, 2024