He is a key figure in the acid jazz movement, which is a mixture of jazz into hip-hop and funk, and has been dubbed by many as "The Godfather of Neo Soul". He is most well known for his signature compositions "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" and "Searchin", and is also famous for having more sampled hits by rappers than any other artist.
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.
Searching
Roy Ayers Ubiquity Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Do you hear what I hear
Can you see what I see
Everybody's crying out
And yet we have no unity
My friends always ask me
Mary? tell me why do you weep
All the negativity
That's why I'm searching
Searching searching
We are living in a world
Of "who has what?" and "who is who?"
But I'm telling you my friend
The answer's right in front of you
We are searching for a peace
Piece of mind is what we need
We are searching for the love
That comes with the unity
Oh ooh oh (oh)
Oh ooh oh (everyday)
Oh ooh oh (it rains)
Oh ooh oh (can you stand the pain?)
Oh ooh oh (why do we live the way we choose to live?)
Oh ooh oh
Oh (I'm telling you my brother right now that we got to be)
Searching searching
Oh ooh oh (oh)
Oh ooh oh (why are we still searching)
Oh ooh oh (when the answer's right in front of you)
Oh
Oh ooh oh (I'm telling you)
Oh ooh oh
Oh ooh oh (you better look straight a head of your path)
Oh (because the love is always there)
Searching searching
I don't wanna fuss n' fight
I just wanna make it right
What can we do to be strong
If we try to get along
I'm not trying to preach to you
But I am still searching too, yeah
Me and you can do it, oh
I don't ever wanna be stressed out
I just wanna live my life
The way I feel that I should be
'Cause I wanna be happy, happy
What about you and me
Searching searching
The song "Searching" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity is a deep and meaningful song that seeks to address some of the difficulties and challenges that we experience in life. The song starts by acknowledging the pain and suffering that we all experience in life, and the fact that we are all searching for something. The lyrics talk about how we are all searching for unity, peace, and love, and how these things are essential to our well-being and happiness. The song also acknowledges the difficulties that we face in trying to achieve these things, and the fact that sometimes our search can seem endless and fruitless.
Throughout the song, the lyrics encourage listeners to keep searching, to keep looking for the answers and to keep striving for unity and peace. The song acknowledges that this can be a difficult and painful journey, but it also reminds us that the answer is right in front of us. We just need to keep searching and keep looking until we find it.
Overall, "Searching" is a powerful song that speaks to the human experience and the struggles that we all face in life. It is a message of hope, encouragement, and perseverance, and it serves as a reminder that we are all in this together.
Line by Line Meaning
Searching searching
The singer is emphasizing the theme of the song - their search for peace and unity.
Do you hear what I hear
Asks the listener to pay attention to the things that are happening in the world.
Can you see what I see
Challenges the listener to see beyond what is presented to them and to recognize that there is more to the world than meets the eye.
Everybody's crying out
Refers to the widespread feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction that is present in society.
And yet we have no unity
Despite their shared experiences of pain and sadness, people are still divided and not coming together to overcome their problems.
My friends always ask me
Indicates that the singer is seen as someone who is mindful and reflective by their friends.
Mary? tell me why do you weep
Implies that the singer is feeling emotional and sad about the state of the world.
'Cause I'm trying to get over
The artist is trying to overcome their negative feelings and move towards a more positive mindset.
All the negativity
Refers to the negative aspects of the world that the artist wants to move past.
That's why I'm searching
Reiterates the artist's desire to find a way to achieve peace and unity in the world.
We are living in a world
Highlights the current state of the world that is marked by materialism and a focus on superficial things.
Of 'who has what?' and 'who is who?'
Refers to the obsession with status and material possessions in society.
But I'm telling you my friend
The singer is trying to impart wisdom or insight to their friend or listener.
The answer's right in front of you
Encourages the listener to look beyond the superficial and recognize that the answer lies in finding unity within themselves and the world.
We are searching for a peace
Describes the shared goal of everyone to find peace and calmness in their lives.
Piece of mind is what we need
Reiterates the importance of inner peace and calmness in one's life.
We are searching for the love
Refers to the human desire for love, compassion, and understanding in life.
That comes with the unity
States that love and unity are intertwined and come together as a package.
I don't wanna fuss n' fight
Expresses the singer's desire for peace and conflict-free interactions with others.
I just wanna make it right
Describes the artist's desire to make amends or to make things better in the world.
What can we do to be strong
Asks the listener to consider what actions they can take to become stronger and more resilient in the face of adversity.
If we try to get along
Suggests that if people try to come together and cooperate, they will be able to achieve more than if they are fighting or working against each other.
I'm not trying to preach to you
The singer is not trying to give a sermon or a lecture to the listener.
But I am still searching too, yeah
Admits that the artist is still on their own journey of personal growth and development.
Me and you can do it, oh
Expresses optimism and hope that together, people can overcome the challenges that they are facing.
I don't ever wanna be stressed out
Describes the singer's desire to live a calm, stress-free life.
I just wanna live my life
Expresses the singer's desire for agency and the ability to live according to their own values.
The way I feel that I should be
The artist wants to live life in a way that feels authentic and true to themselves.
'Cause I wanna be happy, happy
Describes the artist's desire to be happy and content in life.
What about you and me
Invites the listener to reflect on their own desire for happiness and contentment in life and to consider how they can find it.
Oh ooh oh
A harmonic background to the song.
Oh (I'm telling you my brother right now that we got to be)
The artist is telling their brother (or possibly another listener) that they need to work towards unity and peace.
Oh ooh oh (why are we still searching)
Questions why people are still looking for answers, even though the path to peace and unity is already clear.
Oh ooh oh (when the answer's right in front of you)
Reiterates the idea that the answer lies in finding unity and inner peace.
Oh ooh oh (can you stand the pain?)
Challenges the listener to consider the difficulties that come with the search for peace and unity.
Oh ooh oh (why do we live the way we choose to live?)
Asks why people choose to live in a way that is not conducive to peace and unity.
Oh ooh oh (it rains)
A metaphorical expression of difficult times or challenges that people must overcome.
Oh ooh oh (everyday)
Suggests that the struggle for peace and unity is an ongoing, daily process.
Oh ooh oh (because the love is always there)
Expresses the singer's belief that the love needed to achieve unity is always present and accessible.
Oh ooh oh (you better look straight a head of your path)
Encourages the listener to focus on their own journey towards inner peace and unity, rather than being distracted by external factors.
Searching searching
Finalizes the theme of the song of the artist's search for peace and unity.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARY J. BLIGE, ROY AYERS, FRED III JERKINS, RODNEY JERKINS, XENIS DA COSTA, LA TONYA BLIGE DA COSTA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind