Roy Ayers: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Roy Ayers? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.

Roy Edward Ayers Jr. (September 10, 1940 – March 4, 2025) was an American vibraphonist, record producer, and composer. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several studio albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped to pioneer jazz-funk. He was a key figure in the acid jazz movement, and has been described as "The Godfather of Neo Soul". He was best known for his compositions "Everybody Loves the Sunshine", "Running Away", and "Freaky Deaky" and others that charted in the 1970s. At one time, Ayers was listed among the performers whose music was most often sampled by rappers.
Quick facts about Roy Ayers
- Full name: Roy Ayers
- Born: 1940-09-10
- Nationality: United States
- Known as: Musician
- Wikidata ID: Q588551
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Roy Ayers?
Roy Edward Ayers Jr.
What nationality is Roy Ayers?
Roy Ayers is United States.
When was Roy Ayers born?
Roy Ayers was born on 1940-09-10.



