Roy Ayers is loved across multiple industries, whether it's in hip-hop or in gaming.

Fusion FM will never be the same again. Roy Ayers, the influential vibraphonist, composer, and producer who helped shape the sound of jazz funk, neo-soul, and made all those nights strolling around Liberty City so much more memorable has passed. Ayers died on March 4, 2025, in New York City after a prolonged illness. He was 84 years old. The official Rockstar Games account broke the news on X, saying, "Rest In Peace to the pioneer of Jazz Funk and host of Fusion FM, the legend Roy Ayers."

Throughout his illustrious career, Ayers released nearly four dozen albums, with his most prolific period being his 12-year stint with Polydor Records. During this time, he released 22 albums, 12 of which spent a collective 149 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 chart. His commercial success was matched by his artistic innovation, as he pioneered a new, funkier strain of jazz that incorporated electric instruments, rock and R&B rhythms, and a more soulful feel.

Ayers' collaborations were as diverse as they were influential. He worked with trombonist Wayne Henderson, Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, and made guest appearances on albums by Rick James, Whitney Houston, and George Benson, among others. He even worked with Rockstar on Grand Theft Auto IV.

The "Godfather of New Soul" joined the cast of GTA 4 as the DJ of the Fusion FM radio station, voicing himself. Players can also listen to four of his songs in GTA 4, namely: "Running Away", "Everybody Loves Sunshine", "Funk in the Hole", and "Daylight."

His music will forever live on as artists have sampled and continue to sample his compositions. His 1976 hit "Everybody Loves the Sunshine" alone has been sampled nearly 200 times by artists such as Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg. The electric piano hook from "Love," featured on his first Polydor album "Ubiquity," found new life in Deee-Lite's 1990 dance hit "Groove Is in the Heart."

Roy Ayers is survived by his wife Argerie, children Mtume, Ayana, and Nabil Ayers, and a granddaughter.