Quincy Jones, producer of Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, dies aged 91
Quincy Jones, Music Legend, Passes Away At 91
Image credit: Getty Images
Jones gained recognition primarily for his role as the producer of Michael Jackson's iconic Thriller album.
Quincy Jones, the renowned musician and producer known for collaborating with icons like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has passed away at the age of 91.
Jones' public relations representative, Arnold Robinson, announced that he "died peacefully" on Sunday evening at his residence in Bel Air.
"Tonight, with heavy yet grateful hearts, we are sad to announce the death of our father and brother, Quincy Jones. While this is a profound loss for our family, we also want to honor and celebrate the amazing life he lived, recognizing that there will never be anyone quite like him," the family expressed in a statement.
Jones gained fame primarily for his role as the producer of Michael Jackson's iconic album, Thriller.
Throughout his remarkable career, which lasted over 75 years, he received 28 Grammy awards and was recognized by Time magazine as one of the most impactful jazz artists of the 20th century.
At the beginning of his career, he collaborated closely with Frank Sinatra and transformed the iconic song "Fly Me To The Moon," shifting its style from a waltz to a swing rhythm.
In the movie The Wiz, Jones teamed up with a young Michael Jackson, who was just 19 at the time. Later, he produced Jackson's album Off the Wall, which achieved great success, selling 20 million copies.
He also worked on the pop star's subsequent albums, Thriller and Bad.
In 1985, Jones brought together 46 of the most famous American artists of that era, such as Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Cyndi Lauper, to create the song "We Are the World."
Jones collaborated on the song to help raise funds for people affected by the severe famine in Ethiopia.
The record served as the American counterpart to Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas."
The song topped the charts in both the UK and the US, and it was showcased during the Live Aid concert.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Jones was the producer for three of Michael Jackson's albums.
Jones created the music for over 50 movies and television shows, one of the most notable being the 1969 British film, The Italian Job.
He brought the movie The Color Purple to life on the big screen, showcasing two newcomers to the audience – Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.
On television, he was one of the producers for the popular show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
However, it was in music that Jones truly shined. Along with receiving several Grammy awards, including a prestigious legend award in 1992, he was also honored by the Emmys, Tonys, and Oscars.
Jones was married three times and had seven kids, including music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, who is famous for her role in the American version of The Office.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Jones stepped into the world of film production with his first project, The Color Purple, released in 1985. The movie garnered a remarkable 11 nominations at the Academy Awards, one of which was for the musical score composed by Jones himself.
Jones' family described the music producer as "truly unique" and expressed that "thanks to his music and his endless love, Quincy Jones' spirit will live on forever."
Jeremy O'Harris, a prominent playwright, took to X to honor Jones, emphasizing that his "impact on American culture knew no bounds." He highlighted that Jones was the first African American nominated for an Oscar in the Best Score category, along with many other notable accomplishments.
Singer Darius Rucker expressed that we have "lost some of the greatest talents ever," while British DJ Tony Blackburn remarked on X that Jones was a "musical genius."
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