FAREWELL ROY AYERS
Roy Ayers performing in Athens in 2013. Photo: Corbis
Roy Ayers (September 10, 1940 – March 4, 2025), “The Godfather of Neo-Soul”, has passed away. Ayers was a pioneering vibraphonist, producer, composer, and an essential figure in a variety of styles, including jazz, funk, soul, and hip-hop. At the age of five, Ayers received his first pair of vibraphone mallets from none other than Lionel Hampton after a concert in Los Angeles, his hometown. Shortly after, another Angeleno, Charles Mingus, joined the Hampton band as bassist and composer/arranger. There are no known musical meetings between Ayers and Mingus, but in 2015, the vibraphonist paid homage to his major musical inspirations with his debut collection of visual artworks, including one titled “Mingus,” shown below.
