Roy Ayers Dies Aged 84: Hip Hop Pays Tribute

Roy Ayers, the legendary jazz and soul musician who was nicknamed “The Godfather of Neo-Soul,” has passed away at the age of 84.

His death was announced on Wednesday (March 5) in a statement shared on Ayers’ official Facebook page by his family.

“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,” the post read.

“He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming.”

An exact cause of death is unclear, but Ayers was previously hospitalized in 2019 with an undisclosed illness and was forced to cancel a string of concerts in 2023 after contracting COVID-19.

In a distinguished career that spanned several decades, Ayers helped pioneer jazz-funk and acid jazz while also proving to be an influential force in soul music.

After starting out as a sideman for various jazz and bebop acts in the 1960s, Ayers released his debut solo album West Coast Vibes in 1963 before forming his own band called the Roy Ayers Ubiquity in the early ’70s.

The group enjoyed success in the latter half of the decade with albums like Mystic Voyage, Everybody Loves the Sunshine and Vibrations, as well as hit singles “Running Away,” “Searching” and “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.”

His work (as both an artist and producer) would become foundational to Hip Hop and R&B, going on to be sampled by everyone from Mary J. Blige and A Tribe Called Quest to Common and Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth.

Ayers also directly collaborated with the likes of Tyler, The Creator, The Roots and Erykah Badu as he continued making music and performing well into the 21st century.

Mary J. Blige, whose 1994 hit “My Life” sampled “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” was among those who paid tribute to Roy Ayers following the news of his passing.

“RIP Roy Ayers [heart emoji] [dove emoji],” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter) while resharing a clip from her documentary Mary J. Blige’s My Life where she speaks about her love of Ayers’ original.

RIP Roy Ayers ❤️🕊️ https://t.co/pk9vB0vhwM

— Mary J. Blige (@maryjblige) March 6, 2025

DJ Premier wrote on Instagram: “ICON is a status we all strive to earn in our journey of greatness. Thank you ROY AYERS for your heavy soul music. Thank you for touring with GURU and being a member of his Jazzmatazz Vol. 1 delivery. R.I.P. to both of you Kings.”

Fellow legendary Hip Hop producer Pete Rock added: “I LOVE YOU MAN IM SO HURT! THANK YOU FOR OUR TIME TOGETHER, Touring together with you was so much fun, the james brown stories you shared with me i will never forget. Thank you for your music,thank you for your friendship! Rest Roy.”

Questlove also mourned Ayers’ death in a heartfelt post on Instagram, crediting him with inspiring the Soulquarians movement he, D’Angelo, J Dilla and others spearheaded in the late ’90s and early ’00s.

“The King Of Neo Soul. The cat who birthed us all in the ‘vibes only’ movement. The Soundtrack that ALL the incense you ever burned was truly made for,” he wrote. “Thank You Roy Edward Ayers Jr for EVERYTHING you gave us. taught us. showed us. soothed us.

“Crazy how two songs from the most influential elements of my hip hop life (Tribe/Dilla) gave me life changing work that shaped me based on YOUR creations (‘Bonita Applebum’ & ‘Little Brother’).”

Tyler, The Creator, who featured Ayers on both Cherry Bomb and Flower Boy, reacted to his death with shock. “bro are you serious,” he wrote in response to another user who was mourning his passing.

Tributes also poured in from the likes of DJ Quik, Erykah Badu, Rapsody and A-Trak.

HipHopDX sends its condolences to Roy Ayers’ family, friends and fans.

bro are you serious

— T (@tylerthecreator) March 6, 2025

Most of the soul, funk & jazz music I know, I discovered thru the lens of hip hop samples as a kid in the mid 90s. I remember hearing Roy Ayers not only be sampled, but collaborating with Guru’s Jazzmatazz & with the Roots (Proceed II).

Cont’d ⬇️

— Medieval Knievel (@atrak) March 6, 2025

Of all the greats that I explored in those years, there’s some that I continued listening to more than others over decades.
I can’t overstate how much I LIVED with Roy Ayers’ music over time… 😢

He had the rare sweet spot of: jams + emotional depth + texture. ❤️❤️❤️

— Medieval Knievel (@atrak) March 6, 2025

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