Roy Ayers Recovering After Being Hospitalized Ahead of Portland Performance
Published: April 22, 2019
As originally published by Calum Slingerland on
Exclaim!Roy Ayers is recovering with family after being rushed to hospital over the weekend ahead of a festival performance in Portland.
As reported by
Oregon Public Broadcasting, the jazz icon was taken to hospital Saturday afternoon (April 20) ahead of playing Portland's Soul'd Out Music Festival that evening with his band, Roy Ayers Ubiquity.
Details of Ayers' condition were not immediately available Saturday, while his bandmates went on to play the show without him. Following the news, Ayers also released a statement thanking concertgoers for their support, "from the bottom of my heart and the top of my vibes."
"To all of my fans and supporters it is with my deepest sorrow that I was not able to come to Portland to perform for you this evening. I took a wrong turn and wound up at the hospital, ha ha I'm always one that can laugh at themselves," Ayers wrote. "I'm still a little out of sorts, but with the help and care that my family provides me I should be back to my 78 years young self sooner than later and back on the road. I thank you all for your continued support and hope to see you next time around."
Ayers' collaborator Mark Adams tweeted Sunday (April 21) that Ayers' medical emergency happened prior to him leaving New York for Portland.
Roots drummer
Questlove confirmed today that Ayers is at home and recovering from the incident, according to his daughter.
