Iconic musician and producer, Quincy Jones, dies aged 91

Quincy Jones, the iconic US musician and producer famed for his work with Michael Jackson and numerous acclaimed film soundtracks, has died aged 91.

Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, says he passed on Sunday night at his home in Bel Air in Los Angeles surrounded by his family.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

‘A Great Life’

Born Quincy Delight Jones Jr. in Chicago, Illinois in 1933, music provided his guiding path at a young age. As a youthful teen Jones introduced himself to a 16-year-old Ray Charles who encouraged him to take an interest in arranging. The pair struck a lifelong friendship and would often work with each other professionally.

“The Genius” was just one of the many celebrated musicians he encountered during his formative years, and he worked with many jazz greats like: Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington, and Gene Krupa.

During a career that spanned seven decades, he also worked with esteemed names such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Little Richard, Aretha Franklin, Minnie Ripperton, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan and James Ingram. But it’s for his influence on the Michael Jackson albums Off The Wall (1979), Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987), that he is possibly most fondly remembered by Classic Pop readers.

Celebrated Producer

While working on the 1978 film The Wiz, Jackson approached him to recommend some producers for his upcoming solo LP and Jones offered to handle the job himself. The resulting record, Off The Wall, sold about 20 million copies and firmly established him as one of the most prominent producers in the industry. A position secured when follow-up Thriller sold 65 million and became the highest-selling album of all time.

He collaborated with Jackson and Lionel Richie for the charity single We Are The World in 1985, and helped draw together 46 legends of pop, including Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper, to raise money for those suffering from the devastating famine which plagued Ethiopia. The US equivalent to Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas, the record sold in excess of 20 million physical copies. The endeavour was recently covered in the Netflix documentary The Greatest Night In Pop. 

Decorated Career

His extensive film composing career includes Mirage, The Italian Job, In The Heat Of The Night and The Getaway. He received the first of his seven Academy Award nominations for the score to 1967’s In Cold Blood. Further Academy recognition includes: The Eyes Of Love (Best Song for Banning, 1967), For Love Of Ivy (Best Original Song For The Picture from For Love Of Ivy, 1968),  The Wiz (Best Adaptation Score, 1978), and both Best Original Score and Best Original Song (Miss Celie’s Blues (Sister)) for The Color Purple.

Other accolades received during his decorated career include 28 Grammy Awards (with 80 nominations), a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award.

Music Mentor

He also worked on several television shows, producing The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s which offered Will Smith his big break. Posting on X, Smith said: “Quincy Jones is the definition of a Mentor, a Father and a Friend. He pointed me toward the greatest parts of myself. He defended me. He nurtured me. He encouraged me. He inspired me. He checked me when he needed to. He let me use his wings until mine were strong enough to fly.”

Among the many other stars paying tribute on social media were Nile Rodgers, Peter Hook, Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey, Sir Elton John, Barack Obama, Celine Dion, Whoopi Goldberg, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, David Guetta and LL Cool J who said on Instagram: “You were a father and example at a time when I truly needed a father and example. Mentor. Role model. King. 👑You gave me opportunities and shared wisdom. Music would not be music without you.”

Talking to Rolling Stone, Stevie Wonder said: “He’s touched every single genre. It brings tears to my heart to think about how and where he came from and to know that he was able to grow through all of it. When I look at life every day and I think about how ignorant and irresponsible that people who don’t get it can be, I’m motivated to continue to talk about life, sing about it, and write about it, because that’s what Quincy did. He connected with people who had those great talents, and he was able to bring out of them the best … Quincy should remembered as one of God’s greatest gifts to the world.”

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