Roy Ayers, whose neo-soul songs shaped genre, dead at 84
=========================================================

Celebrity Deaths

Add Topic

Roy Ayers, whose neo-soul songs shaped genre, dead at 84
---------------------------------------------------------



USA TODAY

USA TODAY

USA TODAY

10:41 p.m. ET March 5, 2025 Updated: 2:43 p.m. ET March 6, 2025

, the jazz and R&B musician known as the "godfather of neo-soul," has died following a "long illness," his family announced in a statement shared to his social media accounts. Ayers, a choir boy, formed his first musical group while a student at Thomas Jefferson High School. Several years later, he released his debut album "West Coast Vibes" in 1963.

The following decade saw him form Roy Ayers Ubiquity, which resulted in one of his best-known tracks, "Everybody Loves the Sunshine." He collaborated with Erykah Badu; Tyler, The Creator and The Roots, and is also credited with works including the soundtrack to the 1973 blaxploitation film "Coffy" starring Pam Grier.

His music also inspired other musicians such as Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar and Mary J. Blige, the latter of whom sampled his 1976 song "Searching."

Ayers described neo-soul as "a sound that encompasses all these different sounds" in an interview with The Washington Post in 2013. "I like it because it's better than saying I just play jazz, or I just play funk, or I just play blues, or whatever," he added. "I play neo-soul."

As for the genre's origin, he pointed to one of his most recent releases at the time, "Neo Soul Groove."

"Dexcom G7 Is Easy To Use and Easy To Get Started. Simply Sign Up For A Free 10-Day Trial Today."




- Gene Hackman's dog's cause of death released: Reports
- The Donald J. Trump Highway just crashed
- JD Vance addresses cousin's 'idiots' criticism of him, Donald Trump
- Prince Frederik of Luxembourg dies at 22
- I voted for Donald Trump. Here's the thing I am upset about.
- Protein Isn't Enough - Here's What Really Builds Muscle After 60
- Japanese Endocrinologists Warn Reason Behind High Glucose Levels in US
- Big East tournament games today: Time, TV channel for Saturday's game
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing


- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- Japanese Endocrinologists Warn Reason Behind High Glucose Levels in US
- Big East tournament games today: Time, TV channel for Saturday's game
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Big East tournament games today: Time, TV channel for Saturday's game
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work


- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- Japanese Endocrinologists Warn Reason Behind High Glucose Levels in US
- Big East tournament games today: Time, TV channel for Saturday's game
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing


- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- Japanese Endocrinologists Warn Reason Behind High Glucose Levels in US
- Big East tournament games today: Time, TV channel for Saturday's game
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing


- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- Japanese Endocrinologists Warn Reason Behind High Glucose Levels in US
- Big East tournament games today: Time, TV channel for Saturday's game
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work


- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- Japanese Endocrinologists Warn Reason Behind High Glucose Levels in US
- Big East tournament games today: Time, TV channel for Saturday's game
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work
- Trump adviser says veterans aren't 'people that actually work.' Excuse me?
- Dad sentenced in trampoline death of 8-year-old daughter
- What Does Atopic Dermatitis Look Like? (Take a Look)
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Woman accused of killing Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd pleads not guilty
- What is Donald Trump's approval rating? Here's what polls are showing
- Lola Kirke embraces country's traditions, personal growth in new work




```