Quincy Jones, the legendary and multifaceted music icon renowned for producing Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” album, composing award-winning film and television scores, and collaborating with musical greats such as Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, has passed away at the age of 91.
According to his publicist, Arnold Robinson, Jones died peacefully on Sunday night at his residence in Bel Air, Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.
The family stated, “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing.
“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.”
Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones often cited his mother’s hymns as his earliest musical memory. Reflecting on his challenging childhood, he told Oprah Winfrey, “There are two kinds of people: those who have nurturing parents or caretakers, and those who don’t. Nothing’s in between.”
Throughout his illustrious career, Jones mingled with presidents, international leaders, celebrities, musicians, philanthropists, and business moguls. He toured with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, arranged records for Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, composed soundtracks for “Roots” and “In the Heat of the Night,” organised President Bill Clinton’s inaugural celebration, and directed the all-star recording of “We Are the World,” the 1985 charity single for African famine relief.
Jones’ career began in the era of vinyl records played at 78 rpm, and his most notable achievements include his collaborations with Jackson on the albums “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” and “Bad.” These works were universally acclaimed for their style and appeal, with Jones’ creativity amplifying Jackson’s transformation into the “King of Pop.” On tracks like “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” Jones and Jackson created a global sound incorporating disco, funk, rock, pop, R&B, jazz, and African rhythms. For “Thriller,” Jones added memorable elements, such as Eddie Van Halen’s guitar solo on “Beat It” and Vincent Price’s eerie narration on the title track.
Jones was adept in various American music genres, whether setting Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” to a dynamic rhythm and wistful flute or starting Charles’ soulful “In the Heat of the Night” with a robust tenor sax solo. He worked with jazz legends (Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, Duke Ellington), rappers (Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J), crooners (Sinatra, Tony Bennett), pop singers (Lesley Gore), and R&B stars (Chaka Khan, Queen Latifah).
“We Are the World” featured performers like Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, and Bruce Springsteen. Jones co-wrote hits such as Jackson’s “P.Y.T (Pretty Young Thing)” and Donna Summer’s “Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger),” with his songs sampled by artists like Tupac Shakur and Kanye West. He even composed the theme for the sitcom “Sanford and Son.”
Jones’ accolades are extensive, as detailed in his 2001 autobiography “Q,” which spans 18 pages. His awards include 28 Grammys, two honorary Academy Awards, and an Emmy for “Roots.”
He was also honoured with France’s Legion d’Honneur, Italy’s Rudolph Valentino Award, and a Kennedy Center tribute. Jones was the focus of the 1990 documentary “Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones” and a 2018 film by his daughter, Rashida Jones. His memoir was a bestseller.
Frances Ibiefo
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