ubiquity

THE BIRTH OF UBIQUITY

His determination to create a new sound started from the mid to late 1960s. During this period he experimented with the vibraharp by using a combination of new and at the time, older technologies to formulate a uniqueness within his music. Initially he used a form of amplification on his vibes to improve the range of sound, this also produced effects of slight distortion. This later gave him the idea of incorporating a fuzz device to gain slight variations in tonal quality.

Fuzz devices were more commonly used by guitarists, and this integration of sound, fused into his compositions, at the time, sent his style of music into another dimension.

He had an opportunity to record his work in February 1970 under the banner of the Roy Ayers Quartet, but during this time was unable to as he had already embarked on a nationwide tour, but he saw this as his chance to spread his new found sound around, far and wide.

It wasn't until May of 1970, that his friend and manager Myrnaleah Williams, who described this unique fusion of music as having a "ubiquitous" feel, together with Roy, they founded the now familiar tag of "UBIQUITY", a new studio project was also in progress. Roy Ayers Ubiquity @ Soul Train 1977

His debut set entitled "Roy Ayers Ubiquity" soon followed.

An acheivement for any black musician at his time was to appear on America's most prestigious soul dance show, Soul Train and The Roy Ayers Ubiquity appeared on the show back in 1977.

The "Ubiquity" Family

The original line up for ubiquity included Harry Whittaker playing the Electric Piano, Alphonse Mouzon on Drums and Edwin Birdsong providing the vocals, he also played the Organ. Sonny Fortune had also featured on the line-up and his contribution was very well noted on the Saxophone and Flute, as were the talents of Billy Cobham on the Drums. Another drummer with Ubiquity was Dennis Davis his talents were heard on many of the funkiest tracks during the early seventies.

His varied style of sound attracted a whole new audience of older and younger people and his listenership gathered pace throughout the music world.

Check out the Roy Ayers Ubiquity Discography and take a look at his whole Seventies collection.

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