Roy Ayers's Quotes

Most musicians count at the beginning, and never count and talk to their musicians after that. They only talk to them at the end of the song. But I would count with them and talk.

Only a certain number of people go to a store over the period of a year. When a person sees my record on the shelf, it eliminates someone else's record from being sold. It's about continuing to try to find new ways to sell records.

People are always defining and re-defining music. My style of playing has been characterized as smooth jazz and acid jazz. I listen as I play; I'm not caught up in defining the type of music I play.

People in England were coming up to me, saying, My mother and father turned me on to your music. This happened to me 20 years ago. When I was 40 they were saying that.

The majors, they have to control the distribution, the record outlets, the radio and, in some cases, even the venues. And downloading and pirating have also put pressure on the majors.

What we call soul has been around a long time. It comes out of a particular culture that is African in origin, but influenced by 250 years of slavery, as well as other forms of racial oppression.

When I was recording from '70 to '82, I always played piano and laid the tracks down. But I used to talk to the other musicians while the track was playing.

The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers.

I don't trip on that much. I just like to enjoy life and be happy.

Soul has no musical geographical or racial boundaries.

Having good health, being able to breathe and be happy, that's one of the most beautiful gifts. On top of that, I have the gift to play music and make people happy through that. I'm just telling you from my heart, I'm so in love with life.

Some people really trip on success or popularity. My friends would talk to me about that, about tripping on all this stuff, but you know what I tripped on? I started buying property.

A lot of the hip hop artists don't write music. They write words.

DJs and people in the street know what they like.

I always had this energy level that made me want to come to New York.

I don't like rap that you can't understand. The youth is so quick and alert.

I think music all the time.

I was with PolyGram; that was the big label that I was with for the longest, like 12 years.

I'd definitely love to play in Nashville again. That would be really good.

I'm celebrating my 40th year in show business this year.

I've been sampled so much and I'm glad it's happened, it's a great compliment.

It's a wonderful feeling just being in this creative motif.

Now I get exposure first with people directly in the clubs. This is a unique situation for me.