West Coast Vibes
Roy Ayers
1963Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 2
- Cassette
Artist profile · 04/07/2026
Roy Ayers
Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Roy Ayers is an American vibraphonist and singer integral to jazz-funk, soul, and acid jazz genres. His career spans from the early 1960s through decades of influential releases.
- 20
- Albums on Vinyles.com
- 497k
- Last.fm listeners
- 5M
- Last.fm plays
About
Roy Ayers, From LA vibraphone prodigy to jazz-funk pioneer.
Over 30 albums across funk, soul, jazz, and disco — key original pressings tracked live.
Roy Ayers began his musical journey deeply rooted in a family of musicians, mastering the vibraphone by 17 and quickly becoming a significant figure in jazz and funk. Across more than 30 studio albums and numerous compilations, he has explored styles from post-bop and soul jazz to Afrobeat and disco. His 1970 relocation to New York led to forming Roy Ayers Ubiquity, blending jazz with funk and soul into a distinctive sound across twelve albums through the 1970s.
Ayers also composed influential soundtracks, notably the 1973 "Coffy" soundtrack, and collaborated with prominent artists including Fela Kuti on the 1980 album "Music of Many Colours." Continuously active into the 21st century, he remains a key figure for collectors and audiophiles alike, with a vinyl catalog ranging from…
Discography
Roy Ayers discography
Studio albums, live records, compilations and radio recordings. Each album groups all its editions.
Let's Do It
Roy Ayers
1978Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 2
- Cassette 1
You Send Me
Roy Ayers
1978Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
Fever
Roy Ayers
1979Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 2
- Cassette 1
No Stranger to Love
Roy Ayers
1979Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Africa, Center of the World
Roy Ayers
1981Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Feeling Good
Roy Ayers
1982Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Lots of Love
Roy Ayers
1983Studio
- Vinyl 2
- CD 2
- Cassette
In the Dark
Roy Ayers
1984Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
You Might Be Surprised
Roy Ayers
1985Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 2
- Cassette 1
I'm the One
Roy Ayers
1987Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 2
- Cassette 1
Wake Up
Roy Ayers
1989Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
Searchin'
Roy Ayers
1991Live
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
Double Trouble
Roy Ayers
1992Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Hot
Roy Ayers
1992Live
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette
Good Vibrations
Roy Ayers
1993Live
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
The Essential Groove - Live
Roy Ayers
1994Live
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Nasté
Roy Ayers
1995Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Vibesman: Live at Ronnie Scotts
Roy Ayers
1995Live
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette 1
Smooth Jazz
Roy Ayers
1999Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Perfection
Roy Ayers
2000Studio
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Live at Ronnie Scott's - London 1988
Roy Ayers
2001Live
- Vinyl
- CD 2
- Cassette
Mahogany Vibe
Roy Ayers
2004Studio
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette
Sunshine Man
Roy Ayers
2005Studio
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
Secrets Of The Sun
Roy Ayers
2025Studio
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Data provided by Discogs
Listen
Signature songs
- 01Searching
- 02Running Away
- 03Everybody Loves The Sunshine
- 04Liquid Love
- 05The Memory
- 06Funk in the Hole
- 07Love Will Bring Us Back Together
- 08Mystic Voyage
Essentials
3 Roy Ayers albums you need to own
Our picks, approved by the editors.
#1 · 1973Soundtrack album showcasing Ayers' blend of jazz-funk with cinematic grooves; 14 tracks including "Coffy Is The Color" and "Pricilla's Theme."
14 tracksStereo LPPolydor label
#2 · 1969Soul-jazz album featuring 8 tracks; highlights Ayers' early work with intricate vibraphone melodies and jazz arrangements.
8 tracksAtlantic labelMono and stereo versions
#3 · 1980Afrobeat and jazz-funk fusion album recorded with Fela Kuti; a late highlight of soul africaniste with danceable rhythms.
2 tracksPhonodisk labelJapanese original pressing rare
Go further
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B-side
B-side: the hidden stories of Roy Ayers
Studio secrets, tour stories and B-sides worth the whole album.
01Studio
Early collaboration with Herbie Mann at the Lighthouse Club
In 1966, bassist Reggie Workman convinced Roy Ayers to join a jam session with flutist Herbie Mann at Hermosa Beach's Lighthouse Club. This led to a four-year period of collaboration, including work on Mann's landmark 'Memphis Underground'.
02Band
Formation of Roy Ayers Ubiquity in New York
After moving to New York in 1970, Ayers formed Roy Ayers Ubiquity, surrounding himself with musicians like Sonny Fortune, Billy Cobham, and Alphonse Mouzon. This group produced twelve albums through 1977, defining a jazz-funk sound.
03Soundtrack
1973 Coffy soundtrack for blaxploitation cinema
Ayers composed the soundtrack for the film 'Coffy', lead by Pam Grier, delivering one of the standout scores in the blaxploitation genre with tracks like 'Coffy Is The Color' and 'Pricilla's Theme'.
04Collaboration
1980 album with Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti
Roy Ayers collaborated with Fela Kuti on the 1980 album 'Music of Many Colours', featuring Afrobeat fused with jazz-funk, highlighted by a distinctive black-and-white cover evoking Nigerian borders.
He is the godfather of Neo-Soul, whose sound influenced acid jazz and hip hop sampling.— Roy Ayers legacy
Roy Ayers vinyl discography
See allPre-order Brand New Feeling - Yoruba Soul Remixes
Roy Ayers
AfrobeatFunk/Soul/RnB/Disco
2025-09-12BBE MUSICFrom$29.44
2 offersRoy Ayers Delfonic Reworked #1
Roy Ayers
Compilations Funk / Soul / RnBCompilations
2025-08-29BBE MUSICFrom$43.32
2 offersLiquid Love - What's The T?
Roy Ayers
Soul internationalFunk/Soul/RnB/Disco
2023-11-10ALIMFrom$21.77
1 offerGood Good Music - Chicago
Roy Ayers
Funk internationalFunk/Soul/RnB/Disco
2023-01-01EXPANSION RECORDSFrom$21.23
1 offerReaching the Highest Pleasure / I Am Your Mind Part 2 (Pépé Bradock Remix)
Roy Ayers
Funk internationalFunk/Soul/RnB/Disco
2022-10-14BBE MUSICFrom$19.99
2 offersVirgin Ubiquity II
Roy Ayers
Funk internationalFunk/Soul/RnB/Disco
2020-03-27BBE MUSICFrom$47.63
1 offerMusic of Many Colours
Roy Ayers
AfrobeatFunk/Soul/RnB/Disco
2019-11-29Knitting Factory RecordsFrom$26.13
2 offers
Roy Ayers CDs
See all
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FAQ
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
What genres define Roy Ayers' music?
His music spans jazz-funk, soul, acid jazz, post-bop, and Afrobeat, blending vibraphone jazz with funk and disco elements.
Which Roy Ayers album includes the track 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine'?
The track 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine' appears on the 1976 album of the same name, a seminal funk/soul record.
Are Roy Ayers' original LP pressings rare and collectible?
Yes, Japanese original pressings and US promo editions like 'Music Of Many Colours' and 'Coffy' command premium prices among collectors.
Where can I find Roy Ayers vinyl records in France?
French online vinyl shops and record fairs often list Roy Ayers' albums; rare pressings sometimes appear with premium pricing.
How long are typical Roy Ayers vinyl albums?
Album lengths vary, with many releases ranging from around 30 to 45 minutes, suitable for LP formats.
What was the significance of Roy Ayers' move to New York in 1970?
It marked the formation of Roy Ayers Ubiquity and a shift toward a distinctive jazz-funk fusion sound during the 1970s.
Are any Roy Ayers albums essential for vinyl collectors?
Soundtracks like 'Coffy', early jazz works like 'Daddy Bug', and collaborations such as 'Music of Many Colours' are highly regarded.
Does Roy Ayers have live vinyl releases or mostly studio albums?
The vast majority of his vinyl catalog consists of studio albums, with numerous compilations also available.
Transparency
Sources & method
This profile is compiled by the vinyles.com editors from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discography data from MusicBrainz (dates, country, active years).
- Tracklists, covers and genres from Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists from Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editors.
Last updated: 04/07/2026