Roy Ayers

Born in Los Angeles, California on September 10, 1940, vibraphonist, vocalist, composer, and producer Roy Ayers has been a musical pioneer in the jazz, soul, acid jazz, and funk genres and has been referred to as ‘the Godfather of Neo Soul’. From 1960s West Coast jazz to the funk and disco scene of the 1970s through to the early roots of hip-hop, Roy Ayers has left his mark in musical history. Raised in Los Angeles by a musical family, Ayers took up the vibraphone (an aluminum version of a xylophone) at the age of 17 and immersed himself in the sounds of the Central Avenue nightclubs before learning his trade as part of flautist Herbie Mann's band. Roy Ayers released his debut album, West Coast Vibes, in 1963. However, it was his 1970 album, Ubiquity, that led to his first high profile band. Moving away from jazz, he wanted to form a band that would embrace soul and funk music and Roy Ayers Ubiquity was born. The group’s line-up would change throughout their career but some of the musicians and vocalists that appeared on the albums include Harry Whitaker (keyboards/vocals), Dee Dee Bridgewater (vocals), Gloria Jones (backing vocals), David Johnson (bass), Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet), Charles Tolliver (trumpet), Garnett Brown (trombone), Edwin Birdsong (vocals), Billy Cobham (drums), Sam Brown (guitar), Bernard Purdie (drums), and many others. The group’s first album, He’s Coming, was released in 1972, followed by two albums in 1973: Red, Black, and Green and Virgo Red. The album Change Up the Groove (1974) was their first charting album, hitting Number 156 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart. Their most commercially successful period began with 1976’s Mystic Voyage album, which hit Number 93 on the Billboard 200 and Number 13 on the R&B Albums chart. Everybody Loves the Sunshine (1976) did even better, reaching Number 10 on the R&B chart and Number 51 on the Billboard 200. Vibrations (1976) and Lifeline (1977) were just as successful. However, in 1978, Roy Ayers began to focus on his own solo and soundtrack career and produced but did not perform on the band’s final album, Starbooty. Credited to Roy Ayers Presents Ubiquity, the album only reached Number 146 on the Billboard 200 and didn’t even enter the R&B Albums chart. The band split after the release of the album. Roy Ayers continued with a successful solo career and has collaborated with many artists over the years.

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