Roy Ayers, the legendary musician behind the iconic track “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” has passed away at 84.
His family shared the sad news in a Facebook post, saying, “It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers announce his passing, which occurred on March 4th, 2025, in New York City after a long illness.” They went on to say, “He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. The family asks that you respect their privacy at this time, and a celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming.”
Born in Los Angeles, Ayers was drawn to music from a young age. He even formed a music group in high school before diving into advanced music theory at Los Angeles City College. His website notes that by the 1960s, he was already an award-winning jazz vibraphonist, and by the ’70s and ’80s, he had become a popular R&B bandleader.
Ayers’ 1976 hit “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” remains one of his signature tracks, part of his album of the same name, released with his band Roy Ayers Ubiquity.
Throughout his career, Ayers released several notable albums, including his 1978 record Let’s Do It, which featured gospel singer Merry Clayton; the 1985 album You Might Be Surprised; and Nasté in 1995.
Ayers once reflected on his approach to music, saying in an interview, “I listen as I play, and I’m not caught up in defining the type of music I play. Others have called it ‘neo-soul,’ and that’s cool with me… It’s all about changing and being multi-versatile.”
Over the years, Ayers’ music—particularly “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”—has been sampled by massive artists like J. Cole and Mary J. Blige, cementing his lasting influence in the music world.
