Roy Ayers was born in Los Angeles. Thanks to his trombone playing father and piano teaching mother, he became immersed in music from day one and the story goes that he was given his first set of vibe mallets by his hero Lionel Hampton at the age of 5. Constantly performing and recording since the 1960s, he is one of the most famous jazz vibraphonists. He has produced some of the most loved modern soul-jazz records of all time such as, "Everybody Loves The Sunshine", most influential afro-jazz with musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti (Africa - Centre Of The World) and the most seminal jazz-funk, such as "Running Away". And that's just the surface. 2004 saw the release of "Virgin Ubiquity: Unreleased Recordings 1976-1981" which were 'lost' sessions tapes that he had discarded. Gilles Peterson described this as the equivalent of finding a lost Beatles album. No doubt this helped him win the Gilles Peterson 2004 Worldwide Lifetime Achievement Award. Roy Ayers is ageless and evergreen and as per the title of another one of hits, remember "We All Live In Brooklyn Baby".
Timeline
Ayers started recording as a bebop sideman in 1962 and rose to prominence when he dropped out of City College and joined jazz flutist Herbie Mann in 1966.
In the early 70's, Roy Ayers started his own band called Roy Ayers Ubiquity, a name he chose because ubiquity means a state of being everywhere at the same time.
Ayers was responsible for the highly regarded soundtrack to Jack Hill's 1973 blaxploitation film Coffy, which starred Pam Grier. He later moved from a jazz-funk sound to R&B, as seen on Mystic Voyage, which featured the songs "Evolution" and the underground disco hit "Brother Green (The Disco King)", as well as the title track from his 1976 album Everybody Loves the Sunshine.
In 1977, Ayers produced an album by the group RAMP, Come into Knowledge, commonly and mistakenly thought to stand for "Roy Ayers Music Project". That fall, he had his biggest hit with "Running Away".
In late 1979, Ayers scored his only top ten single on Billboard's Hot Disco/Dance chart with "Don't Stop The Feeling," which was also the leadoff single from his 1980 album "No Stranger to Love", whose title track was sampled in Jill Scott's 2001 song "Watching Me" from her debut album Who Is Jill Scott?
In the late 70's, Ayers toured in Nigeria for six weeks with Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, one of the Africa's most recognizable musicians. In 1980, Phonodisk released Music of Many Colors in Nigeria, featuring one side lead by Ayers' group and the other lead by Africa '70.
In 1981, Ayers produced an album with the singer Sylvia Striplin, Give Me Your Love (Uno Melodic Records, 1981). He has also worked in collaborations with soul songstress Erykah Badu.
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. The single was released in July 1988 by Arista Records.
Ayers has played his live act for millions of people across the globe, including Japan, Australia, England and other parts of Europe.
Ayers is known for helping to popularize feel good music in the 70's, stating that "I like that happy feeling all of the time, so that ingredient is still there. I try to generate that because it's the natural way I am". The types of music that he used to do this consisted of funk, salsa, jazz, rock, soul and rap.
1990s to present
In 1992, Ayers released two albums, Drive and Wake Up, for the hip-hop label Ichiban Records.
In 1992, Ayers collaborated with Rick James for an album and is quoted to have been a very close friend of his.
In 1993, Ayers appeared on the record Guru's Jazzmatazz Vol.1 featuring on the vibraphone in the song "Take a Look (At Yourself)".
In 1994, Ayers appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation album Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to the African-American community, was heralded as "Album of the Year" by Time Magazine.
During the 2000s and 2010s, Ayers ventured into house music, collaborating with such stalwarts of the genre as Masters at Work and Kerri Chandler.
Ayers started two record labels, Uno Melodic and Gold Mink Records. The first released several LPs, including Sylvia Striplin's, while the second folded after a few singles.
In 2004, Ayers put out a collection of unreleased recordings called Virgin Ubiquity: Unreleased recordings 1976–1981 which allowed fans to hear cuts that didn't make it onto the classic Polydor albums from his more popular years.
Roy Ayers hosts the fictitious radio station "Fusion FM" in Grand Theft Auto IV (2008).
In 2015, he appeared on Tyler, The Creator's new album Cherry Bomb on the track "Find Your Wings".
A documentary the Roy Ayers Project featuring Ayers and a number hip hop producers who have sampled his music and other people who have been influenced by him and his music has been in development for a number of years.
Pharrell Williams cites Roy Ayers as one of his key musical heroes.
Ayers is a recipient of the Congress of Racial Equality Lifetime Achievement Award.
http://www.royayers.com
http://www.bassics.de/ayers.html
http://www.discomuseum.com/RoyAyers.html
Slip 'n Slide
Roy Ayers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
wouldnt you like to know
with me anything can be
ready set go
slip n slide
all night long
slip n slide
all night long
makes me fantasize
no time to waste give a sign
now i realize
now only time will tell
just how far we can
you know very well just let it
just let it go
so rare want to care
baby thats a fact
i'll try to take you high
can we get to that
late at night in my room
im dreamin bout your touch
i think about what to do
boy you mean so much
slip n slide
all night long
i wanna slip n slide with you
slip n slide
all night long
we can do it just for two
now only time will tell
just how far we can
you know very well
just let it just let it go
all night long
baby, sugar
slip n slide
all night long
(i wanna slip n slide with you)
slip n slide
all night long
(lets slide in my room)
slip n slide
all night long
(slippin and sliding with you)
slip n slide
slip n slide
all night long
fade
The lyrics to Roy Ayers's song "Slip 'n Slide" depict a carefree attitude towards love and relationships. He sings about feeling free and open to explore with someone else, assuming a "ready set go" mentality. Ayers describes "slipping and sliding" all night long, showing a desire for a deeper connection and physical intimacy with this person. He mentions seeing this person's face in his mind that makes him fantasize, indicating a strong attraction towards them. He implores them to give a sign, and once they do, he feels that the possibilities are endless.
The lyrics also acknowledge the uncertainty that comes with relationships, as Ayers sings, "now only time will tell just how far we can." He recognizes that he wants to care for this person, but it is unsure how deep their connection will go. However, he is willing to take a chance and let it all go, enjoying the moment and the experience with this person.
Overall, the lyrics to "Slip 'n Slide" are about living in the present, taking a chance on love, having fun, and enjoying the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
im free baby cant see
I am liberated and carefree, unable to perceive any constraints or limitations in my life, and I feel great about it.
wouldnt you like to know
Don't you want to be a part of my journey towards freedom and unconditional happiness and enjoy my company?
with me anything can be
Being with me is full of possibilities as I am open-minded and adaptable, you can be yourself and explore new dimensions of life.
ready set go
I am enthusiastic about starting this adventurous journey with you, and I am ready for all the fun and excitement it brings.
slip n slide
Let's be carefree and spontaneous, let's see where this journey takes us, let's have fun, let's be bold, and let's break all the rules.
all night long
Let's keep this commitment forever and make the most of the moments that we spend together.
i see your face in my mind
Your presence is so strong that it remains engraved in my mind and induces vivid dreams, images and imaginations that give me joy and happiness.
makes me fantasize
Your thoughts and images fill me with erotic pleasure, and I start to indulge in sensual fantasies.
no time to waste give a sign
We should not delay expressing our feelings for each other and should take a step forward towards a loving relationship. So show me some sign of interest.
now i realize
I understand that you are a significant part of my life, and I want to have a deeper connection with you.
now only time will tell
We can't predict the future or the depth of our relationship, but it's worth taking the risk and seeing how things unfold and evolve.
just how far we can
Let's see how deeply we can connect and how intense our emotions get for each other.
you know very well just let it
You are aware of the attraction between us and its potential, so don't hold back and let your feelings out.
so rare want to care
The relationship we have or could have together is unique and precious, and I want to cherish and nurture it.
baby that's a fact
I want you to know that my feelings for you are genuine, and I am not playing games, this is a fact.
i'll try to take you high
I want to make you feel great, and if you're with me, I promise to go the extra mile to make you happy and fulfilled.
can we get to that
Let's explore a deeper level of intimacy and affection between us and aim for a satisfying and fulfilling relationship.
late at night in my room
When I'm alone at night, you are often on my mind, and I feel the desire to be with you.
im dreaming bout your touch
In my fantasies or dreams, I imagine meeting you intimately and experiencing the pleasure of your touch.
i think about what to do
I contemplate the various steps I can take to strengthen our relationship and enhance our connection.
boy you mean so much
You are an important and valuable part of my life, and I cherish your presence.
i wanna slip n slide with you
I want to spend time with you being adventurous, carefree, and having fun without any worries or fears.
we can do it just for two
We can have all the fun and quality time alone in each other's company without the need for a third-party.
baby, sugar
A term of endearment for the person I care about.
slippin and sliding with you
Being spontaneous and adventurous with you and embracing life without any reservations.
Writer(s): Roy Ayers
Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Tracey Lin Miller
on Swirl
This is not Swirl, Swirl is on the Roy Ayers' Naste' LP