Roy Ayres would have been 85 today. I will always miss him.

Laurie Ayres · Post by **Laurie Ayres** » 10 Dec 2014 1:52 pm

Today Roy would have been 85. I still miss him with all my heart. I had to move recently and I now live alone. I thank God that He has taken care of me all this time. My son took me to the Jam in Bradenton in November and it was wonderful to see all our friends again. John played Tennessee Waltz for me in memory of Roy. It raised my spirits to see every one again. May God bless all of you for your support through these last 2 1/2 years. I couldn't have made it without all of you. Christmas Blessings. Laurie

bruce fischer · Post by **bruce fischer** » 10 Dec 2014 2:30 pm

we all miss roy!
all the best to you laurie.
Merry Christmas
bruce & lynn

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 10 Dec 2014 8:13 pm

Laurie, It was wonderful to see you again. We all miss Roy and his music. We also miss you as you were so much a part of everything he did.

Blake

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 10 Dec 2014 10:08 pm

You two will always be the tops in my book

Hal Higgins · Post by **Hal Higgins** » 11 Dec 2014 4:35 am

Laurie....I miss Roy, too....would love to see you again, as well. Merry Chistmas to you.....God Bless

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 11 Dec 2014 10:59 am

Just the other day, Caleb and I were looking at the last copy of Pushin' Pedals that I had sent Roy. He later sent it back to my grandson Caleb saying it belonged with our family. What a Gentle Man !!

Regards, Paul and Caleb

Donna Dodd · Post by **Donna Dodd** » 12 Dec 2014 1:59 am

Laurie - I'm glad you were able to see some of your steel guitar friends! I'm sure it was a treat for everyone! I think of you often....

memories.....

John King · Post by **John King** » 12 Dec 2014 4:14 am

Laurie I was so glad to see you and you son at the jam. I miss Roy and his beautiful playing, but I miss most his wonderful personality.

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 12 Dec 2014 11:32 am

I miss him too Laurie. I'll never forget the time I showed him Band in a Box at the Western swing show in Auburn. I believe he promptly went out and started doing a single with it. I'm honored to have known him!

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 13 Dec 2014 6:56 pm

Roy was the best and is sorely missed by all.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 14 Dec 2014 4:53 am

You two look beautiful. Just to read the things said here by many friends, not knowing him, I can see why. Bless you.

Walter Stettner · Post by **Walter Stettner** » 14 Dec 2014 10:45 am

Laurie,

I will always cherish the hours we spent together. Both of you were very special to me and I still think about Roy often, remembering his kindness and warm personality.

Can't hug you in reality, but I send you a special electronic hug!

Best wishes to you and the family!

Walter

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 14 Dec 2014 11:19 am

Roy and I never met in person, but had corresponded frequently. I always felt honored that he looked upon me as a friend.

On thing we laughed about was the fact that there is another musician named Roy Ayers- note the different spelling, who wrote the music for the Pam Grier blaxploitation film "Coffy."

The film is so atrociously bad it is unintentionally funny. And the music is mindless 70's soul-disco oriented pabulum. Stylistically, it's as for from the music our our friend made as possible.

I was confused when I saw the name Roy Ayers in the credits, till Roy explained to me that it was a different guy.

R.I.P. Roy. You did a lot for us and our instrument, and those among us who don't know who or what you did are nevertheless in your dept. Those of us who did know you, miss you.

Willis Vanderberg · Post by **Willis Vanderberg** » 15 Dec 2014 4:54 pm

Roy was my inspiration for ever. We met at Buck Lake Ranch back in 48 or 49. He took the time to visit with this fifteen year old wanna be steel picker. I have never ever forgot that time in my life. To find him again at a jam session in Florida was beyond words.
After fifty some years we both recalled that moment.
Roy and L.T. Zinn were both my heroes back in the day, coming from an area where steel guitar was nonexistent I was thankful for their knowledge and their willingness to share.
Laurie, I hope you find peace knowing that he is resting high on that mountain.I know he loved you with all his being.

Old Bud

Laurie Ayres · Post by **Laurie Ayres** » 17 Dec 2014 7:14 pm

To everyone of you.....all my love. I have had a couple of hard days with Roy's birthday just past and Christmas coming up. Your words and love mean more to me than you will ever know. I miss all of you and the jams so very much. It was awesome to see everyone in Bradenton again. Every one was so wonderful to me and welcomed me with open arms. John played Tennessee Waltz for me in memory of Roy. I felt Roy was there with us and was smiling on all of you. I pray I will make it in Jan. 2015.

Having to move a couple of months ago from my daughter's was very difficult for me and I now live alone in Sun City Center.

My youngest son and family have been so good to me and helped me with all of this. I will be with them for Christmas and I thank God for that.

This is the first Christmas I will not be with my daughter and my grandchildren in 12 years and it breaks my heart. But, God has been good to me and taken care of me. I'm thankful to know that I still have all of you to surround me.

I am filled with happiness that all of you posted. Thanks for uplifting my heart.

God Bless you all and may the New Year bring all of us a better year.

With tons of love,
Laurie

Dr. Hugh Jeffreys · Post by **Dr. Hugh Jeffreys** » 6 Apr 2015 4:19 pm

Hello Laurie----Linda and I wish you all the best; as you know, Roy and I grew up just miles apart. Take care, Hugh and Linda

Laurie Ayres · Post by **Laurie Ayres** » 6 Apr 2015 4:32 pm

Hugh & Linda, I was just thinking about you the other day. Yes, I remember you grew up not very far apart. I live by myself now in Sun City Center but Roy is with me in my heart. I still have his wall up with his plaque etc. If you two ever get down this way my coffee pot is always on. Take care of each other. Laurie

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 7 Apr 2015 7:32 am

Laurie, I relished the few e'mails I got from Roy...showing me his steel etc etc. He made me feel like a friend of long standing. God Bless you both.

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

Sho-Bud and Carter universals.

www.micky-byrne.co.uk

Laurie Ayres · Post by **Laurie Ayres** » 7 Apr 2015 8:23 am

Micky, thanks for posting. How are you doing? We often talked about you and your heart. I treasure the steel guitar friends that stay in touch with me. It's my link to our world! Hugs Micky, Laurie

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 7 Apr 2015 8:25 am

Hi Laurie. As you know, there's a Blaxploitation film from the 70s called "Coffy," with music by a man with the same name, and only a slightly different spelling: Roy Ayers.

Roy and I had a good laugh about that.

The movie (which is so atrociously bad that it's unintentionally funny,) was recently shown on TV. It made me think of Roy and all the letters we exchanged over the years. It is one of my regrets that we never met in person.

Roy may be gone now, but the world is a better place because he passed through it.

Micky Byrne · Post by **Micky Byrne** » 7 Apr 2015 9:37 am

Good to hear from you Laurie...I'm not doing too bad thanks...if you look on my website "LATEST UPDATES" page it will give you results of my 16 year test a few weeks ago .. God Bless

Micky "scars" Byrne U.K.

www.micky-byrne.co.uk

Ben Rubright · Post by **Ben Rubright** » 7 Apr 2015 1:43 pm

Dear Laurie:

I too miss Roy..............I met him at ISGC some years ago and he treated me as though we were long lost friends. I wish I had spent more time talking with him but since I live in Punta Gorda, FL I thought there would be a lot more opportunities. In any event, I will always remember him with fondness. With best regards to you.

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 9 Apr 2015 1:14 am

Laurie, good to hear from you. I will always remember the few times I met and talked with Roy, as said above, he spoke with and treated each of us as though we were his family.

and we were !

I recall in 07, the year Roy was inducted into the Hall of Fame, I grabbed the elevator at the Convention hotel from one of the upper floors and low and behold Roy was in the elevator on the way down, we talked for a few minutes and I was able to congratulate him for his achievement.

wishing you the best

tony

Tommy Young · Post by **Tommy Young** » 10 Apr 2015 11:13 am

Good to hear from you Laurie as u and i both know Mr Roy and i grew up in the same town and knew some of the same people there... sure am glad we got to meet and chat sev. times as he would look me up and have talks about those friends of his and mine GOD Bless..
TOMMY YOUNG

John King · Post by **John King** » 12 Apr 2015 1:52 pm

Laurie
I also miss the beautiful music and the friendship Roy brought to all our steel jams. I sure miss him.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Roy Ayres would have been 85 today. I will always miss him.

Roy Ayres would have been 85 today. I will always miss him.

Really a great man