Jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers pᴀssed away in New York City on Tuesday after a long illness.

The legendary vibraphonist’s official Facebook page announced the sad news: ‘He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming.’

Roy and his group Roy Ayers Ubiquity scored their biggest hit in 1976 with Everybody Loves the Sunshine, which peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard 200 chart.

In 2016, Pitchfork ranked the track as one of the 200 top songs of the 1970s, writing: ‘This was not a song that was trying to hide, though it’s nimble enough that it could.’

Jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers pᴀssed away in New York City on Tuesday after a long illness (pictured in 2017)

The legendary vibraphonist’s official Facebook page announced the sad news: ‘He lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed. His family ask that you respect their privacy at this time, a celebration of Roy’s life will be forthcoming’

Ayers – who averages 382K monthly listeners on Spotify – had music in his genes growing up with his mother Ruby, who taught piano, and father Roy Sr., who played trombone.

The Los Angeles native released over 40 albums and collaborated with artists like Tyler the Creator, Erykah Badu, the Roots, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, and Rick James.

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Roy also memorably composed the music for Jack Hill’s 1973 blaxploitation classic Coffy starring Pam Grier as a nurse-turned-vigilante.

Ayers’ music had a huge impact in the hip-hop community where he was sampled on Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 song Good Kid, Mary J. Blige’s 1994 hit My Life, A Tribe Called Quest’s 1990 song Bonita Applebum, and Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s 1995 hit Get Money.

Pharrell Williams has reportedly cited the Godfather of Neo-Soul as one of his key musical heroes.

Roy’s final solo studio album Mahogany Vibe was released in 2004, but his collaborative album Jazz is ᴅᴇᴀᴅ with Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad dropped in 2020.

Ayers leaves behind his wife Argerie and their two children, Ayana and Mtume, as well as his son Nabil from a prior relationship

Roy and his group Roy Ayers Ubiquity scored their biggest hit in 1976 with Everybody Loves the Sunshine, which peaked at No. 51 on the Billboard 200 chart (pictured in 1983)

Ayers – who averages 382K monthly listeners on Spotify – had music in his genes growing up with his mother Ruby, who taught piano, and father Roy Sr., who played trombone (pictured in 1970)

The Los Angeles native (pictured in 2018) released over 40 albums and collaborated with artists like Tyler the Creator, Erykah Badu, the Roots, Fela Kuti, Herbie Hancock, and Rick James

Roy also memorably composed the music for Jack Hill’s 1973 blaxploitation classic Coffy starring Pam Grier as a nurse-turned-vigilante

Ayers’ music had a huge impact in the hip-hop community where he was sampled on Kendrick Lamar’s (pictured February 9) 2012 song Good Kid, Mary J. Blige’s 1994 hit My Life, A Tribe Called Quest’s 1990 song Bonita Applebum, and Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s 1995 hit Get Money

Pharrell Williams has reportedly cited the Godfather of Neo-Soul as one of his key musical heroes (pictured Tuesday)