Roy Ayers, an influential jazz vibraphonist, keyboardist, composer, and vocalist, has passed away at the age of 84. He was best known for his iconic 1976 hit "Everybody Loves the Sunshine," which has been sampled by numerous prominent R&B and rap artists, including Mary J. Blige, N.W.A., Dr. Dre, 2Pac, Mos Def, and Ice Cube. Ayers' family announced his death in a Facebook post, stating that he died on Tuesday in New York City after battling a long illness. They remarked that he "lived a beautiful 84 years and will be sorely missed."

Ayers had an impressive music career, with 12 albums reaching the Billboard 200 charts. His highest-charting album, "You Send Me," peaked at No. 48 in 1978, while "The Best of Roy Ayers" spent an astonishing 50 weeks on the Contemporary Jazz Album chart. His music has continually resonated, featured in the 2019 film "Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack." The song "Running Away" contributed to A Tribe Called Quest's 1989 album "Description of a Fool," and was also sampled by artists like Big Daddy Kane and Common. More recently, Ayers’ work appeared on Tyler, the Creator's "Cherry Bomb" and Erykah Badu's "Mama's Gun."

Roy Ayers expressed pride in his extensive catalogue of sampled hits during a 2004 interview with Wax Poetics magazine, claiming, "I might not have more samples than James Brown, but I’ve had more sampled hits." His album "Lifeline" is particularly noteworthy, having peaked at No. 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-hop chart in 1977, with the hit "Running Away" reaching No. 19 on the R&B chart and becoming a significant club anthem.

During a visit to Johannesburg in 2017, Ayers shared valuable advice with youth in the Soweto area, encouraging them to "get serious, be inspired, rap on, keep on and eventually you'll get it." He acknowledged several musicians who influenced him, including Nigerian legend Fela Kuti, who he described as "really like a genius," Herbie Mann, who "taught me the business," and the iconic Miles Davis, whom he referred to as "the coolest" and "the grandmaster."

Roy Ayers began his recording career in 1962 with hard bop tenor saxophonist Curtis Amy's band. He later collaborated with jazz flutist Herbie Mann, recording three albums for Atlantic Records: "Virgo Vibes," "Stoned Soul Picnic," and "Daddy Bug." Furthermore, he was responsible for the soundtrack of the blaxploitation film "Coffy," which starred Pam Grier. His career also included work with David "Fathead" Newman, who was a mainstay in Ray Charles' renowned 1960s orchestra.

In 2017, Ayers performed at the Arroyo Seco Festival in Los Angeles, alongside notable acts such as Tom Petty, the Shins, Alabama Shakes, Charles Bradley, and William Bell. He is survived by his wife, Argerie, as well as their children, Mtume and Ayana Ayers.

Roy Ayers leaves behind a remarkable legacy, not only as a musician but as an influential figure whose work has shaped the worlds of jazz, R&B, and hip-hop. His contributions to the music industry will continue to echo through the collaborations and samples that keep his spirit alive.