Roy Ayers Has Died; Cause Of Death

American great Roy Ayers has died, it has been confirmed.

A statement from the musician’s family has confirmed the news, with Roy Ayers passing away in New York after a long illness. He was 84 years old.

The note reads:

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. 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.

Born in Los Angeles, Roy Ayers was swept into the West Coast jazz scene as a teenager – multi-talented, he was initially a vocalist, then a producer, while also developing his skills as a vibraphone player.

In the early 70s he formed Roy Ayers Ubiquity, blending jazz-funk and R&B into something smooth, yet also ripe for dancefloor use. Hits such as ‘Running Away’ followed, with Roy Ayers work flirting with the outskirts of disco, while maintaining its own identity.

Adored by crate-diggers, Roy Ayers’ catalogue practically defined the UK’s rare groove movement, while his live sets became the stuff of legend.

London venue the Jazz Cafe became a home-from-home for Roy Ayers, and the team there posted an effusive tribute on social media:

Roy Ayers is a prime example of the true joy which can be spread through music, lighting up rooms like the sunshine he preached about.

We are saddened to learn of the passing of the legendary vibraphonist and jazz-funk pioneer, who we feel lucky to have spent so many unforgettable evenings in our venue with.

—

—

Roy Ayers worked tirelessly, with his final tour including a stop at South London’s epic Cross The Tracks festival. Teasing his anthem ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’ into a 10 minute soliloquy, he proved that music is immortal.

One of his final releases was for the Jazz Is Dead imprint, who write:

We are deeply saddened by the passing of the legendary Roy Ayers. A true innovator, Roy shaped and revitalized the musical landscape across generations. His sound became the backdrop to every era he graced, with ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’ serving as an anthem for so many of us.

Rest in power, Roy Ayers.