Quincy Jones,the musical giant whose six-decade, barrier-breaking career encompassed many creative personas—musician, songwriter, producer, conductor, arranger, artist, record label owner and executive, TV/film producer, magazine publisher and humanitarian—has died. He was 91.
His vast legacy ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s historic “Thriller” album to writing prize-winning film and television scores and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other recording artists.
Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, said he “passed away peacefully” on Sunday night at his home in Bel Air.
“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,” the family said in a statement.
According to Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, the 28-time Grammy Award winner (out of a record 80 nominations) and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer died on Sunday night (Nov. 3) at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.
He worked closely with Frank Sinatra early in his career and reworked the crooner’s classic Fly Me To The Moon, taking it from a waltz to a swing.
In the film The Wiz, Jones found himself working alongside a 19-year-old Michael Jackson. He went on to produce Jackson’s album Off the Wall which sold 20 million copies.
He also produced the pop star’s follow-ups, Thriller and Bad.
In 1985, Jones gathered 46 of America’s most popular singers of the time, including Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper to record We Are the World.
Jones co-wrote the song to raise money for those suffering from a devastating famine in Ethiopia.The record was the US equivalent to Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas.
The hit reached number one in the UK and the US and was performed at Live Aid.
Jones also composed the soundtrack to more than 50 films and TV programmes including the 1969 British film, The Italian Job.
On the big screen he produced the film The Color Purple which introduced the public to two then unknown performers – Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.
On the small screen he was one of the producers behind the hit TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
But it was music where Jones excelled – as well as winning multiple Grammys, including a legend award in 1992, he was also recognised by the Emmys, Tony’s and Oscars.
Jones was married three times and had seven children who include music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, known for the US version of The Office.
Jones’ family said: “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.”
Among the survivors are his seven children, including actress Rashida Jones.
Leading tributes, playwright Jeremy O’Harris said on X that Jones’ “contributions to American culture were limitless”, noting he was the first black person nominated for an Oscar for best score among his other achievements.
Jones broke the color barrier again as the first black composer to receive name recognition for his film work. The first theatrical feature that Jones scored was Sidney Lumet’s The Pawnbroker in 1964. With the support of Lumet and other industry allies like Henry Mancini and Sidney Poitier, Jones composed the music for two landmark films released in 1967: best picture Oscar winner In the Heat of the Night and In Cold Blood, based on the Truman Capote bestseller.
Segueing into television, Jones wrote the memorable theme songs for such series as The Bill Cosby Show, Ironside and Sanford and Son. He also executive produced The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring rapper and fledgling actor Will Smith, and In the House, starring LL Cool J.
“Quit” was a foreign word to Jones, who survived two brain aneurysms in 1974. After the first, he wrote in his 2008 book, The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions: Photos, Letters, Memories & More from Q’s Personal Collection, “It didn’t look like I’d make it, so my friends planned a memorial service. … They had the concert anyway.” With his neurologist at his side, he attended the service at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles as Richard Pryor, Marvin Gaye, Sarah Vaughan and Sidney Poitier paid tribute to his great talent and legacy.