While the music world mourns Roy Ayers, the Godfather of Neo-Soul and a jazz-funk pioneer who died at age 84 on March 4, the hip-hop community will always remember him as one of its brightest inspirations.

Roy Ayers, the musician behind the iconic song "Everybody Loves the Sunshine," has died at 84. The singer's family announced his death in a Facebook post on Wednesday evening. "It is with great sadness that the family of legendary vibraphonist,

Roy Ayers was a beloved sample source who made it a point to collaborate with rappers as the genre rose to prominence