In “My Life in the Sunshine,” I imagined I’d learn about my father’s death from the internet or a stranger.
Instead, I found out from family — and I’m deeply grateful for that.
I wrote more about it on Substack.
Rest in the sunshine, Roy.
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#royayers #royayersubiquity
My uncle Alan taught me music before I could really talk. Eight years ago we reissued his 1975 debut and it changed both our lives. His fourth album, Anthem for Peace, is out today.
Roy Ayers Ubiquity’s “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” turns 50 today. I’ve spent the last few months going deep on my father’s song—its unusual 50-year ascent, and why it’s never quite gotten its due. Next week I have a piece about it in the LA Times, and I’ll be talking about it on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. Stay tuned.
This album just turned 50. It’s hard to take seriously now, but it’s also hard to forget how scary and powerful the cover art felt to me as a little kid. I wrote a Substack post about it. [link in bio]
Tonight, this Thursday, 4/30 at 6pm: join us for a live, in-store conversation / podcast recording with Nabil Ayers: president of the Beggars Group of record labels, host of the podcast Identified, and author of the memoir My Life in the Sunshine which explores his non-relationship with his father, Roy Ayers.
Nabil is the co-founder of Sonic Boom Records. His record label - The Control Group / Valley of Search - includes artists Lykke Li, Bad Brains, The Killers, and PJ Harvey.
Ayers has contributed writing on music, race, and family to The New York Times, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, and GQ.
It was a huge honor to contribute the liner notes to the 40th anniversary edition of Fishbone’s “In Your Face.” (!)
They just released the LP+CD and they’re touring the album now. I’ve shared the notes on my Substack / free / please share.
/p/i-finally-met-my-teenage-favorite
![This album just turned 50. It’s hard to take seriously now, but it’s also hard to forget how scary and powerful the cover art felt to me as a little kid. I wrote a Substack post about it. [link in bio]](https://sp1.picnob.com/p/pt_6739714644355149531656_0_e10207f65dd3350c998688f4b3044542.jpg?o=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&h=aab46d856c85ff3ad5f811e9fc5174f9)
