Jazz Memorial For Roy Ayers

Roy Edward Ayers, Jr. was born in Los Angeles, CA on September 10, 1940. He comes by his affinity with music naturally, as his mother Ruby Ayers was a schoolteacher and local piano instructor and his father Roy Sr., a sometimes-parking attendant and trombonist. Roy turned to the steel guitar by the age of nine, had stints during his teens playing flute, trumpet and drums before embracing the vibes as his instrument of choice.

Perhaps Roy’s karmic destiny as a vibraphonist was by his parents’ decision to allow him to attend a concert featuring the great Lionel Hampton’s Big Band. During “Hamps” customary stroll down the aisle to thank his audience for attending, he noticed an ecstatic five-year-old boy. So impressed was "Hamp" by the child’s ebullience he walked over and presented young Roy Ayers Jr. with the gift of a lifetime- a pair of vibe mallets, the rest as they say is History.

Roy would come to be known as the 'Godfather of Neo-Soul', bridging the gap between generations of music lovers and would spend the next 70 plus years touring the world stages, capturing fandom wherever he went. As of his death, Roy Ayers remained one of the most sampled artists worldwide, but most enjoyed performing to live audiences.

Roy Ayers is survived by his wife of over 50 years Argerie Ayers, his son Mtume Ayers, his daughter Ayana Ayers and granddaughter.

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