Roy Ayers is a key figure in the acid jazz movement, and has been dubbed "The Godfather of Neo Soul".
15 Facts About Roy Ayers
2.
Roy Ayers was born on September 10,1940, in Los Angeles.
3.
Roy Ayers grew up in a musical family, where his father played trombone and his mother played piano.
4.
The area of Los Angeles that Roy Ayers grew up in, South Park was at the center of the Southern California Black music scene.
5.
Roy Ayers started recording as a bebop sideman in 1962 and rose to prominence when he dropped out of City College and joined jazz flautist Herbie Mann in 1966.
6.
Roy Ayers was responsible for the highly regarded soundtrack to Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation film Coffy, which starred Pam Grier.
7.
In 1977, Roy Ayers produced an album by the group RAMP, Come into Knowledge.
8.
In 1981, Roy Ayers produced an album with the singer Sylvia Striplin, Give Me Your Love.
9.
Roy Ayers performed a solo on John "Jellybean" Benitez's production of Whitney Houston's "Love Will Save The Day" from her second multi-Platinum studio album Whitney.
10.
Roy Ayers has played his live act for millions of people across the globe, including Japan, Australia, England and other parts of Europe.
11.
In 1992, Roy Ayers released two albums, Drive and Wake Up, for the hip-hop label Ichiban Records.
12.
In 1993, Roy Ayers appeared on the record Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol.
13.
Roy Ayers started two record labels, Uno Melodic and Gold Mink Records.
14.
Roy Ayers has worked in collaborations with soul singer Erykah Badu and other artists on his 2004 album Mahogany Vibes.
15.
Roy Ayers is a recipient of the Congress of Racial Equality Lifetime Achievement Award.