Legendary producer, humanitarian, and music industry icon Quincy Jones has sadly passed away at the age of 91 at his home in Bel-Air. Although no cause of death has been revealed at the moment, he is said to have been surrounded by his family in the statement released by his publicist, Arnold Robinson. He is responsible for producing many albums, but most notably three of the most influential records of all time: Michael Jackson’s Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad. To add to that, he has worked with many talented artists spanning across multiple generations including Frank Sinatra, Chaka Khan, Ray Charles, Dizzy Gillespie, Snood Dogg, and many more.
He is regarded as one of the most influential people within music through his career of over 70 years. He managed to bring 46 of the biggest stars in music together for the iconic collaboration, We Are the World. From Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Dionne Warwick, and Willie Nelson, artists from all walks of life were in the studio for one of the biggest moments in music history. In the realm of television, he scored well-known shows like The Bill Cosby Show and Sanford and Son as well as producing the hit sitcom, Fresh Prince of Bellaire. As the biggest names in Hollywood posted their condolences, Will Smith made a heartfelt post on his Instagram saying, “Quincy Jones is the true 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.”
Jones has won a slew of awards, including 28 Grammys (third most of all time), two Oscars, and an Emmy in addition to being named a Best Selling Author for his memoir, Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. One piece of advice Jones gave for his philosophy as a businessman is, “take talented people on their own terms and treat them fairly and with respect, no matter who they are or where they come from.
Born in Chicago, Illinois on March 14th, 1933, he grew up in a city filled with crime and gangs until he moved with his father to Washington at the age of 5. When he was 14, he became friends with Charles and the pair began playing in clubs before he began touring with Lionel Hampton and Gillespie after he finished high school.
His early career saw him dabble in jazz as he played music alongside Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Through his well rounded taste in music, he was able to pick up a knack for seamlessly blending multiple genres such as funk, R&B, rock, and classical to create a unique sound. He had long been rather versatile as he studied trumpet and composition at Seattle University on a scholarship. He went on to work on soundtracks to films such as In the Heat of the Night, The Wiz, In Cold Blood, and The Color Purple before transitioning to pop music.
His work expanded outside of music as he fought for children’s education, providing for the poor, and HIV and AIDS awareness. The Quincy Jones Foundation supports humanitarian and cultural initiatives while advocating for racial equality and an overall change in society. He has inspired many from the likes of Kanye West to Beyoncé to Pharrell Williams who describes Jones as “…an unparalleled talent that I will miss deeply.” He was a loving father to his son and six daughters including actress Rashida Jones. In 2018, she co-directed a documentary released on Netflix called Quincy that took a look at the life of the legend through old footage. His last Instagram post is dated from just days ago to one of his daughters, saying, “Happy Birthday to my Tina Beena @martinafotos1!! So proud to be yo papa! Big hug, I love you eternally.”
Another admirable quality about Jones that many could learn from is that he held a fairly drama-free career, with the exception of the legal issues with Jackson’s estate. For as long as he was an active member of the industry, that’s extremely commendable. No matter what type of music you listen to, nine times out of 10, the artist responsible for some of your favorite songs will credit Jones as an influence. His work knows no boundaries as it transcends across generations of artists throughout the history of music.
He will forever be known as a pioneer in the industry that can never be duplicated with a legacy that will remain cemented and never forgotten. Few creative geniuses have come along and been able to create a cultural shift the way Jones has. He is responsible for the best selling record of all time as the success of Thriller is still unmatched decades later. No matter how many attempt to duplicate the success, influence, and career he built over his 91 years of life, there will only be one Quincy Jones.