Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer and composer known for creating Michael Jackson's groundbreaking Thriller album, as well as writing award-winning scores for movies and TV shows, has died at 91.
Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, announced that he passed away Sunday night at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. The family shared a statement saying, “Though we are heartbroken, we celebrate Quincy’s incredible life and know there will never be another like him.”
Jones rose from a tough upbringing on the South Side of Chicago to become one of the most influential figures in music and entertainment. He became one of the first Black executives in Hollywood, creating a musical legacy that included iconic moments in American music. His influence touched nearly every major artist and leader in entertainment, from Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles to movie stars and even U.S. presidents.
In his long career, Jones worked with many legends. He toured with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, arranged music for Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, composed music for films like Roots and In the Heat of the Night, and helped organize We Are the World, the 1985 charity song for famine relief in Africa. His collaborator, Lionel Richie, called Jones “the master orchestrator.”
Jones' biggest achievements came with Michael Jackson’s albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, which showcased a blend of disco, funk, rock, pop, and R&B that helped Jackson become the “King of Pop.” For Thriller, Jones brought in rock guitarist Eddie Van Halen for the song Beat It and added a spooky voiceover by Vincent Price on the title track.
Jones’ career earned him 28 Grammy Awards, two honorary Oscars, and an Emmy. He also received France’s Legion d’Honneur and a Kennedy Center tribute. His story was told in the documentaries Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones and the 2018 film directed by his daughter, Rashida Jones. His autobiography, Q, became a bestseller.
- Tags:
- International
0 Comments:
Leave a Reply