The world just lost a music giant. Roy Ayers, the vibraphone master and funk pioneer, has passed away at 84 years old. His influence is everywhere—from jazz to hip-hop, from neo-soul to R&B. If you’ve ever vibed to Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Outkast, The Roots, or Erykah Badu, you’ve heard Roy Ayers. His legendary track “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” has been sampled more times than we can count, shaping the sound of generations.
In this powerful excerpt from NIGHT SCHOOL, Marc Lamont Hill breaks down why Roy Ayers’ music mattered, how he revolutionized Black sound, and why we need to honor him properly. Will the culture give him his flowers the way he deserves? Let’s talk about it.
Drop a comment: What’s your favorite Roy Ayers track?
To watch the FULL episode, look under the NIGHT SCHOOL playlist on Marc Lamont Hill’s Official YouTube Channel.
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