Roy Ayers
- Type: Classic Bandleader
- Country: United States
- Born: September 10, 1940 in Los Angeles, California, United States
- Died: March 4, 2025 in Manhattan, New York, United States
- Active: 1940 - 2025
Biography
Roy Ayers was an American vibraphonist, composer, and producer celebrated as a key figure in the acid jazz movement and a pioneer of jazz-funk. After starting as a post-bop jazz artist with #Atlantic# Records, he formed Roy Ayers Ubiquity in the 1970s. With his new band, he signed to #Polydor# and released a string of influential albums, including the iconic 'Everybody Loves the Sunshine'. His unique fusion of jazz, funk, and soul, along with his prolific output, earned him the title "The Godfather of Neo-Soul." His music has been heavily sampled in hip-hop by artists like *A Tribe Called Quest* and *Dr. Dre*, cementing his cross-generational influence.
Genres
Roy Ayers Discography
- West Coast Vibes (1964) - Album - rated 3.29/5
- Virgo Vibes (1967) - Album - rated 3.5/5
- Stoned Soul Picnic (1968) - Album - rated 3.56/5
- Daddy Bug (1969) - Album - rated 3.37/5
- Ubiquity (1970) - Album - rated 4.05/5
- He's Coming (1972) - Album - rated 3.81/5
- Red, Black & Green (1973) - Album - rated 3.79/5
- Virgo Red (1973) - Album - rated 3.81/5
- Change Up the Groove (1974) - Album - rated 3.53/5
- A Tear to a Smile (1975) - Album - rated 3.89/5
- Mystic Voyage (1975) - Album - rated 3.23/5
- Vibrations (1976) - Album - rated 3.67/5
- Everybody Loves The Sunshine (1976) - Album - rated 4.12/5
- Lifeline (1977) - Album - rated 3.26/5
- Silver Vibrations (1983) - Album - rated 3.04/5
Members
- Roy Ayers Ubiquity - primary artist, backing vocals, producer, lead vocals
- Dee Dee Bridgewater - backing vocals, lead vocals
- Edwin Birdsong - lead vocals
- Wayne Garfield - backing vocals, lead vocals
- Carolyn Byrd - backing vocals
- Deborah Burrell - backing vocals
- Terry Burrell - backing vocals
- James Green - co-producer
- Debbie Darby - lead vocals
- Chano O'Ferral - congas, percussion
- Harry Whitaker - piano, clavinet, electric piano, written-by
- Leon Pendarvis - piano, clavinet, electric piano
- Pat Rebillot - synthesizer
- arranged by - synthesizers
- James "BJ" Boston - backing vocals
- Monica Burruss - backing vocals
- Wilbur Bascomb - bass
- Bernard Purdie - drums
- Wilby Fletcher - drums
- Jerry Schoenbaum - producer
- Gil Silva - rhythm guitar
- Jerry Friedman - rhythm guitar
- George Braith - sopranino saxophone
- William Allen - co-producer
- Sylvia Cox - vocals
- Roy Ayers - producer, vibraphone, lead vocals, electric piano
- strings - ensemble
- Philip Woo - piano, electric piano
- Chicas - lead vocals, backing vocals
- Doug Rhodes - drums
- Ronald "Head" Drayton - guitar
- Maurice Green - producer
- Calvin Brown - guitar, vocals, written-by
- Byron Miller - bass, backing vocals
- Ricky Lawson - drums
- Willie Michael - percussion
- Joe Brazil - soprano saxophone
- Sonny Fortune - soprano saxophone, flute
- Carol Smiley - backing vocals
- Bob Fusco - guitar