Roy Ayers

Roy Ayers is an American vibraphone player, composer and producer born September 10, 1940 in Los Angeles, California, who died March 4, 2025 in New York. Beginning his career as a post-bop jazz artist, Ayers helped pioneer jazz-funk during his tenure at Polydor Records in the 1970s, creating hits like "Everybody Loves The Sunshine," "Searching" and "Running Away." He founded his own label Uno Melodic Records in 1980 and collaborated with Fela Kuti during his prolific career spanning multiple decades.

Ayers' electronic music releases span Nu Disco, House, Deep House, Funky House and Tech House across labels including BBE Music and Peppermint Jam. His six releases on Electrobuzz between 2016 and 2025 showcase his jazz-funk foundation translated into contemporary dance music contexts. The productions maintain the groove-heavy sensibilities of his classic material while adapting to modern house tempos and electronic production techniques.