Roy Edward Ayers, Jr. was born in Los Angeles, CA on September 10th, 1940. Perhaps Roy’s karmic destiny as a vibraphonist was influenced by his parents’ decision to allow him to attend a concert featuring the great Lionel Hampton’s Big Band. So impressed was “Hamp” by the child’s ebullience, he walked over and presented young Roy Ayers Jr. with the gift of a lifetime — a pair of vibe mallets. At seventeen years of age, his parents presented him with a set of vibes and the rest is history.

After graduation from Jefferson High, Roy attended Los Angeles City College where he studied advanced music theory. By 1961, Roy had become a well-rounded, full-fledged professional musician. He collaborated and performed with the likes of Chico Hamilton, Teddy Edwards, Jack Wilson, Phineas Newborn and Gerald Wilson.

Evolving into a composer and arranger, Roy met and developed a relationship with one of the jazz world’s leading authors and producers, the noted Leonard Feather. His debut album “West Coast Vibes” was produced by Feather, featured an impressive array of talent, and received high accolades in the jazz world.

The 1970s found Roy embarking upon a long and fruitful relationship with Polydor Records, where Roy committed to the search for and exploration of new musical concepts. It was during this period he formed the group Ubiquity. The term “ubiquity” (from the Latin) means the state or capacity of being, or seeming to be, everywhere at the same time.

Roy Ayers has continued to write, produce and collaborate with many major artists, and is currently one of the most sampled artists in the music industry. Some of the artists and producers who have recorded with, performed with, or sampled some of Roy's vibraphone mastery include Herbie Hancock, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, Whitney Houston, Tupac and The Roots.

Always the consummate showman, Roy Ayers has managed to incorporate his jazz virtuosity, with driving funk, melodic rhythms and stirring vocals into an amalgam that almost defies its description as “smooth jazz." Roy Ayers is and shall always be a music icon and a part of popular worldwide culture. He is, without question, a legend in his own time. ​

Roy Edward Ayers, Jr. was born in Los Angeles, CA on September 10th, 1940. Perhaps Roy’s karmic destiny as a vibraphonist was influenced by his parents’ decision to allow him to attend a concert featuring the great Lionel Hampton’s Big Band. So impressed was “Hamp” by the child’s ebullience, he walked over and presented young Roy Ayers Jr. with the gift of a lifetime — a pair of vibe mallets. At seventeen years of age, his parents presented him with a set of vibes and the rest is history.

After graduation from Jefferson High, Roy attended Los Angeles City College where he studied advanced music theory. By 1961, Roy had become a well-rounded, full-fledged professional musician. He collaborated and performed with the likes of Chico Hamilton, Teddy Edwards, Jack Wilson, Phineas Newborn and Gerald Wilson.

Evolving into a composer and arranger, Roy met and developed a relationship with one of the jazz world’s leading authors and producers, the noted Leonard Feather. His debut album “West Coast Vibes” was produced by Feather, featured an impressive array of talent, and received high accolades in the jazz world.

The 1970s found Roy embarking upon a long and fruitful relationship with Polydor Records, where Roy committed to the search for and exploration of new musical concepts. It was during this period he formed the group Ubiquity. The term “ubiquity” (from the Latin) means the state or capacity of being, or seeming to be, everywhere at the same time.

Roy Ayers has continued to write, produce and collaborate with many major artists, and is currently one of the most sampled artists in the music industry. Some of the artists and producers who have recorded with, performed with, or sampled some of Roy's vibraphone mastery include Herbie Hancock, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, Whitney Houston, Tupac and The Roots.

Always the consummate showman, Roy Ayers has managed to incorporate his jazz virtuosity, with driving funk, melodic rhythms and stirring vocals into an amalgam that almost defies its description as “smooth jazz." Roy Ayers is and shall always be a music icon and a part of popular worldwide culture. He is, without question, a legend in his own time. ​

As an artist who needs no introduction, Brian McKnight has earned himself a spot in contemporary music history. He has released 15 albums to date, with several going 2 and 3x platinum, and he has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. In addition to being a singer, songwriter and producer, McKnight is also a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments including piano, guitar, bass, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet.

In an industry known for a constantly revolving door of artists, McKnight has easily established himself with an enviable record of chart consistency, has toured successfully for over a decade, and has collaborated with performers across every genre including Quincy Jones, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Diddy, Christina Aguilera Rascal Flatts, Nelly, Vanessa Williams, Willie Nelson and Kenny G.