Music Titan Quincy Jones Passes Away Aged 91
Quincy Jones was the man behind Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad.
Music producer and industry titan Quincy Jones has passed away, aged 91.
The man behind Michael Jackson’s biggest album, Thriller, died on Sunday night surrounded by family at his Bel Air home in Los Angeles.
His family released a statement about his death that reads: “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. He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”
Along with producing Jackson’s solo albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad, Jones worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer, Ray Charles and more.
Jones procured dozens of film scores during his career, including In the Heat of the Night, The Italian Job and The Color Purple, and also launched his own television and film production company that had huge success with the Will Smith fronted Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
His list of awards is incredible, with Jones having won an Emmy, 28 Grammys, one Academy Award and a Grammy Legend Award. He was also the recipient of the Republic of Italy’s Rudolph Valentino Award, France’s Legion d’Honneur and a Kennedy Center tribute for his contributions to American culture.
Tributes have flowed for the accomplished music vet, with Micahel Caine, who was born on the same day as Jones (March 14, 1933), writing: “My Celestial twin Quincy was a titan in the musical world. He was a wonderful and unique human being, lucky to have known him.”
Paul McCartney wrote, “He was supremely talented, and I felt privileged to have known him for many years. He was friends with George Martin, the Beatles’ producer and, between the two of them, produced some very fine music,” while Ice-T added, “I woke up today to the Terrible news that we lost Quincy Jones… Genius is a description loosely used but Rarely deserved. Point blank, Quincy was the MAN. I won my 1st Grammy with Quincy and I live with his Wisdom daily.”
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Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones’ love of music started at an early age. Taking up the trumpet at ten, Jones formed a band with fellow student Ray Charles a few years later before attending Berklee College of Music in Boston. This is when his life as a touring musician began, with Jones releasing several jazz albums and collaborating with the likes of Charles, Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie.
After a disastrous tour of Europe left Jones broke, he returned to America and scored a job at Mercury Records. Here Jones began his producing career, working with a long list of talented artists and scoring films and television shows.
Jones’ name was getting more well-known within the industry, but it was his work with Michael Jackson that cemented him as one of the greats. While Off the Wall and Bad are incredible albums, it was Thriller – the best selling album of all time – that catapulted both Jones and Jackson to superstardom.
After the success of Thriller, Jones started his own television and film production company, creating The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, while also launching his own record label, Qwest, and the still-in-print Vibe magazine.
Jones is survived by his seven children, including actress Rashida Jones.
