Quincy Jones obituary: From 'street rat' to music mastermind

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Quincy Jones spent an additional 50 years of his life after being present at his own memorial service.

After the musician experienced a brain aneurysm in 1974, it was reported that his odds of pulling through were extremely low due to his significant fame. As a result, his well-known friends began organizing a tribute concert in his honor.

At 41 years old, Jones had already established a lasting influence on American music in various roles, including performer, arranger, songwriter, producer, composer for soundtracks, and record executive.

He began his career in the vibrant jazz clubs of the 1950s, honing his skills in soul, swing, and pop through collaborations with artists like Dinah Washington, Frank Sinatra, and Lesley Gore. Eventually, he achieved success as a solo artist, breaking into the top 10.

Several of the top entertainers in the United States have committed to performing at his memorial service.

Even after he recovered, the show continued as planned.

Jones proceeded with his neurologist by his side, who emphasized the importance of remaining calm and not getting overly excited.

"It was tough to handle all the compliments coming from Richard Pryor, Marvin Gaye, Sarah Vaughan, and Sidney Poitier," he shared with Newsweek in 2008.

Even more thrilling events were still on the horizon.

Jones developed a groundbreaking collaboration with Michael Jackson, managed the creation of "We Are the World" in 1985—which became one of the best-selling songs ever—and produced hit tracks for artists such as Chaka Khan and Donna Summer. He also collaborated with some of the most prominent figures in hip-hop.

Almost every genre of American popular music felt his impact.

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Quincy Jones began his career by performing in jazz bands and later took on the role of bandleader.

Jones had always managed to persevere.

He spent his childhood during the Great Depression in the 1930s, living on the South Side of Chicago. When he was just seven years old, his mother was admitted to a mental health facility, while his father earned a living as a carpenter for the infamous Jones Boys gang.

Young Quincy aspired to be a gangster as well. He explained, "You tend to want to emulate what you observe around you, and that's the only thing we ever witnessed."

He and his brother grew up in a rough environment and, when he accidentally wandered into the wrong part of town at just seven years old, a member of a competing gang attacked him, impaling his hand on a fence. He also suffered another injury when he was struck in the face with an ice pick.

Quincy's father moved the family to Washington state, and one evening, Quincy and a few friends decided to sneak into a community center in search of something to eat. Once they were inside, they discovered a piano.

"I felt it, and every part of me knew that this would be my life's work," he shared during a 2016 interview with BBC Radio 4's Front Row.

He remarked that the experience "transformed my life" during a chat with rapper Kendrick Lamar for a 2018 Netflix documentary. He went on to say that, "without music, I would either be dead or locked up by now."

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Ray Charles and Quincy Jones began their journey together when they were teenagers.

Quincy quickly started trying out different instruments at school and eventually chose the trumpet as his favorite. He then took to playing in nightclubs.

When he was 14, he formed a friendship with an aspiring musician named Ray Charles, who would go on to be a lifelong partner in his musical journey.

At the age of 14, he had the chance to perform alongside Billie Holiday. He was later mentored by bandleader Count Basie and trumpeter Clark Terry. He continued to work with Dizzy Gillespie and was part of the band during Elvis Presley's debut television performance.

After demonstrating his skill in song arrangement while traveling the globe with Lionel Hampton's big band, he quickly became sought after for that role as well.

However, after accumulating a debt of $145,000 during a tour in Europe, he started working a regular job at Mercury Records in 1961. This made him the first African American to hold the position of vice president at a major record label.

During his time there, he uncovered and created the hit single "It's My Party" performed by Lesley Gore, which sold over a million copies. He also put out a compilation album called "Big Band Bossa Nova," which featured his catchy song "Soul Bossa Nova." This track has since become a popular choice at parties and in movie soundtracks, notably in "Austin Powers."

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Frank Sinatra referred to Quincy Jones as "one of the greatest musicians I've ever encountered."

During this time, Sinatra was really impressed by Jones's talents and asked him to orchestrate and lead two of his albums in the 1960s. They developed a productive collaboration, with Sinatra referring to him as "a giant" and "one of the best musicians I've ever met."

The two developed a strong friendship beyond their time in the studio. "Seven double Jack Daniel's in just an hour... [Sinatra] was the one who made partying a thing," Jones remembered.

Jones collaborated with numerous iconic artists of his time, such as Aretha Franklin, Louis Armstrong, and Sammy Davis Jr. Additionally, his solo album "Body Heat" made it into the top 10 in the US charts.

At the same time, he was building a career by creating music for television series and movies, such as In Cold Blood, The Italian Job, and Roots.

Truman Capote, the author of *In Cold Blood*, allegedly attempted to have Jones taken off the movie due to his race. However, Jones stayed in the project, and his musical work earned him the first of his seven Oscar nominations.

Another notable soundtrack is from The Wiz, the 1978 film adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. This musical featured Diana Ross and a young Michael Jackson, who was just 19 years old at the time. Jackson was eager to explore new opportunities after achieving fame as a child with The Jackson 5.

Jones recognized Jackson's immense talent and took on the roles of his producer and mentor. They first collaborated on the 1979 album, *Off the Wall*, which turned out to be a significant success. This was followed by the 1982 release of *Thriller*, an album that achieved unprecedented levels of commercial and critical acclaim, solidifying Jackson’s status as the undisputed King of Pop.

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Michael Jackson and Diana Ross appeared in the film adaptation of The Wiz.

The album represented more than just Jackson's artistic abilities; it marked the pinnacle of Jones's career. He utilized his unmatched musical skills to shape the sound of the 1980s, blending R&B and pop in a smooth, refined way.

Jones sifted through countless tracks to pick the nine that would make it onto the album. He brought together a talented group of musicians and songwriters that he had carefully gathered over time.

His selection of partners showcased his talent for transforming a good song into a fantastic one. For "Beat It," he felt the track required a more rock-influenced vibe, so he brought in Eddie Van Halen to add a guitar solo. There's a story that the solo was so intense that it caused a speaker to catch fire in the studio.

When it was time to work on the title song, Jones wasn't fond of the initial title, Starlight. He asked the songwriter, Rod Temperton, to think of a new name. Temperton decided to change it to Thriller and added a creepy vibe to the music. To enhance the track even further, Jones reached out to his wife’s friend, horror legend Vincent Price, to record a spoken-word outro.

The album brought Jones and Jackson the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, with Thriller being recognized as the Album of the Year and Beat It taking home the award for Record of the Year.

In the 1980s, Jones applied his successful approach while working with artists like George Benson, Donna Summer, and Patti Austin. He created the decade's top-selling single when Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie brought together 35 of the nation's most prominent artists for the charity song "We Are the World" in 1985.

Jones famously put up a sign at the studio entrance advising the stars: "Leave your egos behind."

He enjoyed more success under his own name with his albums The Dude and Back on the Block. The latter, which came out in 1989, showcased a star-studded lineup, including many of his old friends from the beginning of his career, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Ray Charles.

In addition to reflecting on his history, he was also very much engaged in the current scene, bringing in artists like Ice-T and Grandmaster Melle Mel to feature on the main song.

This brought Jones another Grammy for Album of the Year.

Even though he was in his 50s, he was drawn to rap music because he recognized parallels with the vibrant spirit of bebop jazz. He appreciated that many of the genre's artists had emerged from challenging backgrounds.

"I have a strong connection there since we experienced many similar challenges," he mentioned.

Rap icons returned his admiration, viewing Jones as a respected figure in the realm of Black American music. Both Kendrick and Dr. Dre were noticeably impressed during their encounter with him for a Netflix documentary named "Quincy," which was helmed by his daughter, actress Rashida Jones.

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Jones leveraged his influence to help reduce the violence within the hip-hop community by organizing the Quincy Jones Hip-Hop Symposium in 1995. At this event, he spoke to a gathering of prominent rap artists from across the country.

"I hope to see all of you perform live until I reach your age," he expressed to them.

For Jones, his involvement in social causes was closely linked to his musical career.

He encountered Martin Luther King in 1955, and he remarked, "After that moment, my life changed forever."

Engaging in civil rights and participating in politics transitioned from being just a secondary interest to becoming a vital aspect of everyday life and the essence of being human.

He established the Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation and initiated the We Are the Future initiative, along with backing various other charitable efforts.

In addition to his impressive dedication to work, he started a record label and the hip-hop magazine Vibe. He also produced films such as The Color Purple and created popular TV shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Due to his heavy workload and a persistent drinking issue, both his family life and health took a hit.

He went through three marriages and divorces, experiencing a mental health crisis after he and his third wife, Peggy Lipton, parted ways. To heal, he decided to spend some time on a Pacific island that belonged to actor Marlon Brando, a man he originally encountered in a jazz club when he was just 18.

In the 1990s, Jones was romantically involved with actress and model Nastassja Kinski, and he has a total of seven children.

In 2015, he experienced a diabetic coma that lasted for four days, and the next year, he was hospitalized due to a blood clot.

His passing on Sunday at the age of 91 has saddened the music community.

If a second memorial concert for Quincy Jones is held, many celebrities will line up to honor the remarkable accomplishments of this unique artist.