DATE: Tuesday, April 8, 1997                TAG: 9704080274

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NIA NGINA MEEKS, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   61 lines

FANS AND NEWCOMERS GATHER TO LAUGH WITH JAZZ GREAT OF THE '70S

Ester Roy wanted to have something for Roy Ayers to sign at the noon autograph session at Planet Music. She flipped through the jazz selections, pulling a few CDs from the racks and reading the back covers.

``My sister and I used to listen to him a lot when we were teen-agers, back in the '70s,'' said Roy, a Beach resident and native of Chile. ``I don't have any of the albums anymore. My sister took them all.''

In minutes, Roy replenished her Ayers stock. By the time she finished, a booming voice and laughter filtered into the Pembroke-area store. Ayers had arrived.

This was a man who helped Baby Boomers party in the '70s and is now being discovered by the Sesame Street generation.

``It feels wonderful,'' the 56-year-old Ayers said as he slid his pen across a CD jacket. ``I have kids coming up to me saying, `My mother, my father listened to you, introduced me to your music.' ''

The in-store appearance came as a precursor to his Monday evening vibraphone performance at the Virginia Beach Pavilion.

He greeted each person in line with a smile and a handshake, and the occasional hug. Camera flashes went off left and right.

``Who do I make this out to?'' Ayers asked a young Navy man in line.

``Dexter.''

``Dexter, how you doing? You coming out tonight?''

Dexter shook his head, saying he had to ship out.

Ayers cocked his head.

``Dexter, you know the boat don't leave until tomorrow,'' he joked. ``You don't have no secret missions you're going on. You better come tonight.''

The small crowd laughed.

With hits such as ``Runnin' Away'' and ``Everybody Loves the Sunshine,'' Ayers was a staple at barbecues and block parties back in the day.

With hip-hop artists such as Mary J. Blige, A Tribe Called Quest and others using familiar beats from Ayers' older tunes, he remains a staple of dance parties today. In Europe, his music serves as a base for acid jazz runs.

``I didn't really know who he was,'' said Genesis Proctor, a 21-year-old Beach resident. She was in the store browsing and decided to saunter to the back. ``He told me about Mary J. Blige, `My Life.' I knew that. So I'm going to get a CD.''

While the store wasn't crowded with folks, Ayers laughed and smiled for those who did come.

``The most beautiful thing is that people are living their lives to the fullest,'' he said. ``You enjoy yourself as much as possible. None of us know how long we're here for.''

Grant Vanderpool grinned on his way out of the store with an autographed picture and CD.

``I'm a fan from way back,'' Vanderpool said. ``I'm into gospel now. I still like Roy Ayers. He was funny. Really down to earth.''

That's what Ester Roy thought. She couldn't make the concert and figured this was the next best thing.

``Now, I have to go back home,'' she said. ``My kids will be getting out of school soon.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT/The Virginian-Pilot

Above, Ester Roy gets an autograph from Roy Ayers, right, master

vibraphone player, at Planet Music in Virginia Beach.

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