Everybody Loves Sunshine hit-maker and jazz legend, Roy Ayers, has passed away after battling a long illness. He was 84.

But that same sentiment can be said, in a more serious tone, about Black ... with such jazz greats as Mary Lou Williams, who was a composer, arranger and widely known as the best female jazz ...

OVER THE DECADES, MANY JAZZ GREATS HAVE TAKEN THE STAGE TO SHOW OFF THEIR SKILLS ... THE ALABAMA JAZZ HALL OF FAME PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE FOR BLACK MUSICIANS, FEATURING MORE THAN 200 INDUCTEES AND ...

Montreal attracted some of the jazz greats. While most North American clubs were segregated, black musicians found greater integration in Montreal clubs and other incentives to come to the city.

"Jazz is just a word, but really, it's about the history of the Black experience," said NOMA founder Dana Murray.