Roy Ayers in June 2017. Photo:

Mathew Imaging/WireImage

Roy Ayers, the legendary vibraphonist, record producer and composer behind hits like “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” and “No Stranger to Love,” has died. He was 84.

Ayers, nicknamed the “Godfather of Neo Soul,” died on Tuesday, March 4 in New York City after a long illness, according to a statement published on his official Facebook account.

“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,” the statement read. 

Vibraphonist Roy Ayers, the 1990s.  David Redfern/Redferns

The Los Angeles native was born on Sept. 10, 1940, and his musical influences came early as his father played trombone and his mother played piano. 

Ayers was known for pioneering the jazz-funk genre. His 1976 hit “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” has been widely sampled by multiple artists for decades.

Some musicians best known to sample the song for their own projects range from Mary J. Blige and Common to Tyler, the Creator and Kanye West, per Variety. According to NPR, the single has been sampled more than 100 times.

During a February 2020 exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Blige, 54, discussed Ayers’ impact on one of her favorite songs throughout her decades-long career.

“‘My Life’ is one of the most important records of my life,” the nine-time Grammy winner said. “It’s definitely one of the most important and it’s one of my favorite songs ever sampled which is Roy Ayers’ ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine.’ ”

Mutt hitmaker Leon Thomas named Ayers one of the artists who influenced his 2023 project Electric Dusk in a November 2024 interview with PEOPLE.

Roy Ayers, Kool Jazz Festival — July 1976. David Redfern/Redferns/Getty

“I’m trying to create that psychedelic feeling in R&B and it’s a really tough thing because the genre is pretty iron clad,” Thomas, 31, said at the time. “They like certain colors, certain vibes, certain things, but I’m doing my best to dare to be different.”

Following the 1970 album Ubiquity, Ayers named himself and his live band Roy Ayers Ubiquity.

His discography included 1972’s He’s Coming and 1973’s Red, Black & Green. Ayers also crossed into film when he worked on the score for the 1973 blaxploitation action thriller Coffy starring Pam Grier.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Ayers spent his life performing, early on appearing on shows like Soul Train and headlining an NPR Tiny Desk concert in March 2018. 

Ayers is survived by his wife Argerie, and their children Mtume and Ayana Ayers.