In this powerful episode of Hard Knock Radio, Davey D brings together a trio of cultural powerhouses—spoken word trailblazers Ursula Rucker and Jessica Care Moore, alongside cultural historian and artist Kwadwo Deterville—to honor the expansive legacy of Roy Ayers. A true connector across generations, cities, and musical movements, Ayers was remembered with love, laughter, and deep reverence.
Roy Ayers: Beyond ‘Everybody Loves the Sunshine’
Most tributes start with Roy Ayers’ classic Everybody Loves the Sunshine. But Davey D flipped the script and opened with Searching, a deep cut that speaks to the spiritual and introspective layers of Ayers’ sound.
“It always hits a certain way,” said Davey. “It’s a vibe.”
Kwadwo Deterville: Situating Roy in the Cultural Continuum
Kwadwo Deterville grounded Roy’s story in South Central L.A., tracing his roots back to the Central Avenue jazz scene and his early exposure to Lionel Hampton, who inspired Ayers to take up the vibraphone.
“He had one foot in jazz, one foot in popular Black music,” said Kwadwo. “That made him a bridge between eras—Bebop to Hip Hop.”
He broke down how Ayers helped pioneer a proto–Quiet Storm aesthetic, blending jazz, soul, and spiritual uplift. Deterville also highlighted Roy’s Pan-African consciousness, pointing to his Red, Black & Green album and collaboration with Fela Kuti as key moments in Black music history.
Ursula Rucker: “Roy Always Brought the Poets With Him”
For Ursula, Ayers wasn’t just a musician—he was family. Introduced to his music by her older brothers in Philly, she eventually recorded and toured with him.
“Roy loved us poets,” she shared. “He always made room for us—on stage, on the bill, in the vibe.”
She recounted performing Rise alongside Ayers and spoke to how his music—especially Searching—continues to uplift her.
“He made you feel good without apology. That energy, that vibration—it’s sacred.”
Jessica Care Moore: “He Was Our Teacher and Our Baba”
Jessica shared stories of being pulled on stage by Ayers before she was even well-known, calling him a “connector” and a “cultural father.”
“Roy was part of that Black Arts Movement lineage,” she said. “Like Gil Scott-Heron or the Last Poets—he was a philosopher with a vibraphone.”
She spoke about their collaboration on her Black Tea album and how Ayers’ contribution to her track You Want Poems still gives her chills.
“He said, ‘Daughter, I don’t know what you want me to do—the record’s already done!’ But then he laid the vibes, and it was magic.”
The Ayers Effect: Across Generations and Genres
The conversation tapped into how deeply Ayers’ influence runs—from jazz and funk to soul and hip hop. His music has been sampled by countless producers and emcees, from A Tribe Called Quest to Pete Rock, often making him a go-to for DJs and crate diggers alike.
“Roy Ayers albums always gave you five bangers,” Davey noted. “He was that dude.”
They spoke about his warmth, his generosity, and his ability to make people feel like he belonged to their city—be it Philly, Detroit, New York, or Oakland.
“He made everyone feel like he was their legend,” said Jessica. “That’s what made him timeless.”
Closing Reflections: The Joy Was the Message
As the episode wrapped, all three guests emphasized that Ayers’ legacy goes beyond music. It’s about Black joy, community, connection, and cultural elevation.
“He reminded us we could feel good,” Ursula said. “That we could celebrate, gather, and heal through sound.”
Davey D summed it up:
“Roy’s music carried generational knowledge. It was never just a soundtrack. It was soul. It was vibration. And it still moves us.”
Suggested Roy Ayers Tracks to Play in Tribute
- Searching
- Everybody Loves the Sunshine
- We Live in Brooklyn, Baby
- Running Away
- Red, Black & Green
- Africa, Center of the World
- Freaky Deaky
- I Am Your Mind
- Roy Ayers & Fela Kuti – 2000 Blacks Got to Be Free
- Mystic Voyage
Hard Knock Radio is a drive-time Hip-Hop talk show on KPFA (94.1fm @ 4-5 pm Monday-Friday), a community radio station without corporate underwriting, hosted by Davey D and Anita Johnson.