I’m saddened to share the passing of Quincy Jones, the iconic music titan whose legendary career spanned over six decades. Jones, who died on Sunday at his home in Bel Air, California, at the age of 91, left an indelible mark on American music and culture.
Jones rose from a childhood on the gang-ridden streets of Chicago to become one of the most influential and versatile figures in the music industry. From arranging for the big bands of Count Basie and Lionel Hampton to producing Michael Jackson’s record-breaking albums, Jones had a hand in shaping the sound of popular music like few others.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” his family said in a statement. “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.”
Born in 1933, Jones first discovered his love of music at the age of 11, when he stumbled upon a piano in a recreation center while searching for food. This chance encounter set him on a path that would see him become one of the most awarded artists in Grammy history, with 28 wins out of an astonishing 80 nominations.
Jones went on to collaborate with an endless list of music legends, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and Duke Ellington. He also composed scores for iconic films like “The Pawnbroker,” “In the Heat of the Night,” and “The Color Purple.”
But perhaps Jones’ greatest legacy lies in his work with Michael Jackson. As the producer behind the King of Pop’s seminal albums “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” and “Bad,” Jones helped shape Jackson’s sound and catapult him to global superstardom. “Thriller” alone has sold over 100 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling album of all time.
“If an album doesn’t do well, everyone says ‘it was the producer’s fault’; so if it does well, it should be your ‘fault,’ too,” Jones once said. “The tracks don’t just all of a sudden appear. The producer has to have the skill, experience, and ability to guide the vision to completion.”
In addition to his unparalleled musical achievements, Jones was also a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, becoming one of the first Black executives to thrive in Hollywood. He produced the groundbreaking miniseries “Roots” and introduced the world to talents like Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg through his work on “The Color Purple.”
Throughout his life, Jones remained dedicated to philanthropy, using his platform to advocate for causes like fighting HIV/AIDS and providing educational opportunities for underprivileged youth. He founded the Quincy Jones Listen Up! Foundation to connect young people with music, culture, and technology.
“The best and only useful aspect of fame and celebrity is having a platform to help others,” Jones once said. The countless artists and genres that Jones helped shape over the course of his remarkable career reflect his impact as the music world mourns the loss of this towering figure. His influence permeates American music, spanning from jazz to pop, funk to R&B.
“Life is like a dream, the Spanish poet and philosopher Federico Garcia Lorca said,” Jones wrote in his memoir. “Mine’s been in Technicolor, with full Dolby sound through THX amplification, before they knew what these systems were.” Even though Quincy Jones is no longer with us, his lasting influence on music and culture will continue for generations to come.