Quincy Jones:
Music legend Quincy Jones, renowned for producing Michael Jackson’s iconic Thriller album and collaborating with luminaries like Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, passed away at 91. Jones, a true titan of the music industry, died peacefully at his Bel Air home on Sunday night.
Rising from the tough streets of Chicago’s South Side, Quincy Jones ascended to the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. He became a pioneering Black executive in Hollywood and a musical titan, crafting a legacy that includes iconic albums like Michael Jackson’s Thriller and collaborations with legends like Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles.
Quincy Jones, a true cultural icon, moved effortlessly through the highest echelons of society. He rubbed shoulders with presidents and foreign dignitaries, mingled with Hollywood’s brightest stars and music’s most legendary artists, and forged connections with philanthropists and business magnates. His extraordinary life was a testament to his talent, charisma, and boundless energy.
From his early days touring with jazz greats like Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, Jones’ career soared to unprecedented heights. He arranged timeless classics for Sinatra and Fitzgerald, composed unforgettable scores for films like Roots and In the Heat of the Night, and orchestrated the historic inaugural celebration for President Bill Clinton. Perhaps his most significant contribution to the world was his role in organizing the 1985 charity single “We Are the World,” a global effort to alleviate famine in Africa that united some of the biggest names in music.
Lionel Richie, a fellow collaborator on the iconic “We Are the World” and one of its featured singers, aptly described Jones as “the master orchestrator.”
From a time when music was etched onto vinyl records, Quincy Jones’s career soared to extraordinary heights. His collaborations with Michael Jackson, particularly the albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, redefined the boundaries of popular music. These albums, with their universal appeal, catapulted Michael Jackson to superstardom and cemented Jones’s status as a visionary producer.
Jones’s innovative spirit and musical genius were evident in tracks like “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” where he seamlessly blended disco, funk, rock, pop, R&B, jazz, and African chants. His creative vision extended beyond the studio, as he brought in iconic collaborators like Eddie Van Halen for a groundbreaking guitar solo on “Beat It” and Vincent Price for a chilling voiceover on the title track of Thriller.
Quincy Jones, born in Chicago in 1933, traced his earliest musical memories to the hymns his mother sang around the house. However, his childhood was marked by hardship and trauma. His mother’s emotional struggles led to her institutionalization, leaving a profound impact on young Quincy. Without the nurturing care he longed for, he turned to the streets, immersing himself in a world of gangs, theft, and violence.
Music became his salvation. As a young boy, he discovered a neighbor’s piano and spent countless hours practicing. When his family moved to Washington state, a pivotal moment occurred at a local recreation center. While indulging in a stolen lemon meringue pie with friends, Jones stumbled upon a small room with a piano on stage. This chance encounter ignited a spark within him, setting the stage for a remarkable musical journey.
Within a few years he was playing trumpet and befriending a young blind musician named Ray Charles, who became a lifelong friend. He was gifted enough to win a scholarship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, but dropped out when Hampton invited him to tour with his band. Jones went on to work as a freelance composer, conductor, arranger and producer. As a teen, he backed Billie Holiday. By his mid-20s, he was touring with his own band.
Within a few short years, Jones had mastered the trumpet and forged a lifelong friendship with a young, blind musician named Ray Charles. His exceptional talent earned him a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, but his passion for live performance led him to drop out and join Lionel Hampton’s band.
Jones’s career trajectory was meteoric. He transitioned seamlessly between roles as a composer, conductor, arranger, and producer. In his teenage years, he had the privilege of backing the legendary Billie Holiday. By his mid-twenties, he was leading his own band, captivating audiences with his innovative sound.
Jones was a master of discovery and a catalyst for stardom. He provided Will Smith with his breakthrough role in the hit TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which he produced. Additionally, he introduced Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg to the silver screen through The Color Purple.
From the 1960s onward, Jones composed over 35 film scores, including iconic works like The Pawnbroker, In the Heat of the Night, and In Cold Blood. He described scoring as a “multifaceted process, an abstract combination of science and soul.
While not initially an activist, Jones’s perspective shifted after attending Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral in 1968 and forging a friendship with Jesse Jackson. He became a dedicated philanthropist, believing that fame and celebrity provided a platform to help others. His philanthropic endeavors focused on combating HIV/AIDS, educating children, and alleviating poverty worldwide. He established the Quincy Jones Listen Up! Foundation to connect young people with music, culture, and technology. Throughout his life, Jones was driven by a spirit of adventure and an unwavering optimism.
Jones is survived by his wife Rashida, daughters Jolie Jones Levine, Rachel Jones, Martina Jones, Kidada Jones, and Kenya Kinski-Jones, son Quincy Jones III, and siblings Richard Jones, Theresa Frank, and Margie Jay.