Quincy Jones, the legendary music and entertainment titan whose 70-plus-year career redefined pop, jazz and film scoring — and who produced Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking Thriller, Off the Wall and Bad albums — has died at 91.
Variety reported that Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed the news, stating that he died Sunday night at his home in Bel-Air, California, surrounded by family. The cause of death remains unknown.
“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 Jones family said in the statement. “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.”
A lasting legacy in music and entertainment
Jones was so iconic in Hollywood that he was known to everyone by a single letter: “Q,” per Variety. His career was marked by groundbreaking achievements across multiple genres and mediums, influencing generations of artists and shaping the sound of popular music.
Jones collaborated with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Ray Charles as a composer, arranger and producer, earning the third-most Grammy Awards in history with 28, behind Beyoncé’s 32 and conductor George Solti’s 31. He was the musical genius behind Jackson’s classic hits, including “Billie Jean,” “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough“and “Thriller.“ The “King of Pop“ emerged as one of the greatest entertainers ever, mainly due to Jones’ influence as a musical icon. According to The Associated Press, Thriller sold 20 million copies in 1983 alone, solidifying its status as the greatest-selling album ever.
“If an album doesn’t do well, everyone says ‘it was the producers fault’; so if it does well, it should be your ‘fault,‘ too,“Jones explained in an interview with the Library of Congress in 2016. “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.”
Jones also produced the 1985 star-studded track “We Are the World,“ a song dedicated to famine relief in Africa. The song, co-written by Lionel Ritchie, featured Jackson, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Whitney Houston, Billy Joel and more.
Beyond his musical accomplishments, Jones was a visionary in television and film. He produced classic ’90s sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, paving the way for Will Smith to become one of the industry’s best actors. Jones’ film credits include The Pawnbroker (1964), In The Heat of the Night (1968), The Wiz (1978), The Color Purple (1985) and more.
His lasting impact on music and entertainment is evident in the countless artists he inspired and the groundbreaking changes he made that still shape the landscape of modern music today.
Jones’ early life and the inspirations that ignited his love for music
Jones was born in Chicago in 1933, and his journey into music began in childhood, influenced by his experiences growing up on the South Side. He spent much of his adolescence involved in gang activity on the streets, but it was his love for music that ultimately saved his life, per AP.
Playing instruments like the piano and trumpet allowed him to collaborate with music legends such as Ray Charles and Billie Holiday. He later formed a jazz band in his mid-20s, proudly referring to it as the “greatest on the planet.”
“We had the best jazz band on the planet, and yet we were literally starving,” Jones later told Musician magazine, per AP. “That’s when I discovered that there was music, and there was the music business. If I were to survive, I would have to learn the difference between the two.”
Despite his rise to fame, he broke racial barriers in Hollywood and consistently credited his roots to how he has treated people throughout his career.
“My philosophy as a businessman has always come from the same roots as my personal credo: take talented people on their own terms and treat them fairly and with respect, no matter who they are or where they come from,” Jones wrote in his autobiography, according to AP.
Jones’ career accolades, accomplishments and personal life
Jones amassed an extensive collection of accolades and accomplishments throughout his career, which spanned over seven decades. According to The Guardian, “he won an Emmy, 28 Grammy Awards, and three Special Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Legend Award in 1992. He received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989 and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.”
He was married three times, with each marriage ending in divorce. Jones is survived by his seven children: daughters Jolie, Rachel, Martina, Rashida, Kidada and Kenya, and a son, Quincy.
According to Newsweek, he shared a loving post on his Instagram to celebrate Martina’s birthday just hours before his death.
“Happy Birthday to my Tina Beena @martinafotos1!! So proud to be yo papa! Big hug, I love you eternally,“ Jones said in the caption of a photo featuring the two together.
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