Born in 1940 in Los Angeles, Ayers became entranced by the vibraphone after being given his first pair of mallets by percussionist Lionel Hampton’s Big Band at the age of 5. He sang in church choir ...

“At the time, my mother and father told me he laid some spiritual vibes on me,” Ayers said at the time, adding that later he picked up the vibraphones at age 17. “It’s funny, I started ...

An escape for temporary moments.” Roy Ayers, U.S. funk, soul and jazz composer and vibraphone player, during a live concert performance at the Kool Jazz Festival, at the Riverfront Stadium in ...