Quincy Jones, producer of Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, dies aged 91
Music Legend Quincy Jones Passes Away At 91
Jones gained fame primarily as the producer of Michael Jackson's iconic album, Thriller.
Quincy Jones, the renowned musician and producer known for his collaborations with icons like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has passed away at the age of 91.
Jones' representative, Arnold Robinson, announced that he "died quietly" on Sunday evening at his residence in Bel Air.
"Tonight, we come together with heavy hearts to announce the passing of our beloved father and brother, Quincy Jones. While this is a tremendous loss for our family, we choose to honor the vibrant life he led and understand that he was truly one of a kind," the family shared in a statement.
Jones gained fame primarily for his role as the producer of Michael Jackson's iconic album, Thriller.
Throughout his impressive 75-year career, he received 28 Grammy Awards and was recognized by Time magazine as one of the most impactful jazz artists of the 20th century.
In the early stages of his career, he collaborated closely with Frank Sinatra and transformed the timeless classic "Fly Me To The Moon," shifting its style from a waltz to a swing rhythm.
In the movie The Wiz, Jones collaborated with a young Michael Jackson, who was just 19 at the time. He later produced Jackson's album Off the Wall, which became a massive success, selling 20 million copies.
He also worked on producing the pop star's subsequent albums, Thriller and Bad.
In 1985, Jones brought together 46 of the biggest names in music at that time, 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 was similar to Band Aid's "Do They Know It's Christmas," but in the United States.
The song topped the charts in both the UK and the US and was showcased at the Live Aid concert.
Jones was the producer for three of Michael Jackson's albums.
Jones wrote music for over 50 movies and TV shows, including the 1969 British film, The Italian Job.
On the big screen, he created the movie The Color Purple, which showcased two up-and-coming talents at the time: Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.
On television, he played a key role as a producer for the popular series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
However, it was in music that Jones truly shone. In addition to receiving several Grammy Awards, including a lifetime achievement award in 1992, he also garnered recognition from the Emmys, Tonys, and Oscars.
Jones was married three times and had seven kids, among them music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, who is recognized for her role in the American version of The Office.
Jones stepped into the role of film producer with the 1985 movie The Color Purple, which garnered 11 nominations for the Oscars, including a nod for Jones' musical score.
Jones' family described the music producer as "truly unique" and remarked that "through his music and immense love, Quincy Jones' spirit will live on forever."
In a heartfelt tribute, playwright Jeremy O'Harris expressed on X that Jones made endless contributions to American culture. He highlighted that Jones was the first black individual to receive an Oscar nomination for best score, among many other notable accomplishments.
Singer Darius Rucker expressed that we have "lost some all-time legends," while British DJ Tony Blackburn posted on X that Jones was a "musical mastermind."
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