Jazz musician Roy Ayers, who influenced hip-hop and R&B stars, dies aged 84

Roy Ayers performing on stage (Ron Harris/AP)

Roy Ayers, a jazz vibraphonist, keyboardist, composer and vocalist known for his funky 1976 hit Everybody Loves The Sunshine that has been sampled by such R&B and rap heavyweights as Mary J Blige, NWA, Dr Dre and Ice Cube, has died aged 84.

The Ayers family said in a Facebook post that he died on Tuesday in New York City after suffering from a long illness.