Roy Ayers Ubiquity, Everybody Loves the Sunshine | Throwback Vibez

In the 47th edition of Throwback Vibez (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” by Roy Ayers Ubiquity.   

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez ! Throwback Vibez is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re ancient – no fossils ! All genres of music are welcome. In the 47^th edition of Throwback Vibez ️ (2025), we recollect and reflect on “Everybody Loves the Sunshine ” performed by Roy Ayers Ubiquity.

“My life, my life, my life, my life / In the sunshine / Everybody loves the sunshine.” Indeed, everybody does love the sunshine specifically the Roy Ayers Ubiquity classic, “Everybody Loves the Sunshine”.  In 2025, legendary jazz/R&B musician and composer Roy Ayers (1940 – 2025) passed away at age 84. He left a rich music discography including the beloved “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” the eighth track from Ubiquity’s 1976 album, Everybody Loves The Sunshine. Ayers composed “Sunshine,” producing It alongside Maurice Green.   

“Just bees, and things, and flowers.” Word.  The sound stands out the most about “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.” The musical arrangement is marvelous, particularly the distinct synthesizer (Arp Solina) parts and riffs played by Ayers.  The synthesized strings are gorgeous – lush, warm, and ear-catching. In addition to the scintillating synthesizer and programming, the piano riffs are memorable (Philip Woo), the bass is robust (John “Shaun” Solomon), and the percussion groove excels (Chano O’Ferral on conga, Dough Rhodes on drums).  The harmonic progression accentuates the excellence, helping “Everybody Loves the Sunshine” straddle the line of funk, jazz, and soul. While the lyrics are few, they are memorable, performed by Ayers, O’Ferral, and Debbie “Chicas” Darby.  The chorus, excerpted at the top, and appearing at the top of the song, is the section to beat. The verse also contributes to the sunshine, of course

“Feel what I feel, when I feel what I feel, when I’m feelin’

In the sunshine

… Do what I do, when I do what I do, when I’m doin’

In the sunshine.”  

“Everybody Loves the Sunshine” is C-L-A-S-S-I-C, P-E-R-I-O-D! Notably, it has been interpolated and sampled many times, including by Mary J. Blige in her song “My Life”. R.I.P., Roy. 

Roy Ayers Ubiquity // Everybody Loves the Sunshine // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1976

Roy Ayers Ubiquity, Everybody Loves the Sunshine: Throwback Vibez ️ No. 47 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; AcatXlo, OpenClipart-Vectors, Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Speedy McVroom from Pixabay]