Quincy Jones, Legendary Producer, Dies at 91

The entertaiment icon produced Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' and 'Bad' albums

Quincy Jones, the legendary producer behind Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad albums, has died. The entertainment icon passed away at his home in Bel Air, California on Sunday evening (November 4), according to a statement from his rep, Arnold Robinson. He as 91-years old.

"Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones' passing," the family shared 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. 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."

Quincy Delight Jones Jr., born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, is one of the most influential music producers, composers, and arrangers of the 20th and 21st centuries. With a career spanning over six decades, Jones has shaped the sounds of jazz, pop, and R&B, helping to define modern music through his production, innovation, and mentorship. Known for his extraordinary versatility, he has collaborated with an impressive array of artists, from Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin to Michael Jackson and Ray Charles, and has produced some of the best-selling records of all time.

Quincy Jones was born to Quincy Delight Jones Sr., a semi-professional baseball player and carpenter, and Sarah Frances, who struggled with schizophrenia. In 1943, Jones' family relocated to Seattle, Washington, after his mother was institutionalized. It was there that Jones discovered his love for music, particularly the trumpet, which would become his primary instrument. He attended Garfield High School, where he honed his craft and befriended Ray Charles, a blind, young pianist who would also become a music icon.

In 1951, Jones earned a scholarship to Seattle University, but after a year, he transferred to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. However, financial struggles led him to leave Berklee to pursue a professional music career. He began touring as a trumpeter with bandleader Lionel Hampton, an experience that introduced him to the world of jazz and eventually led to his career as an arranger and composer.

Jones' skills as an arranger soon caught the attention of jazz greats. In the 1950s, he worked with artists such as Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Sarah Vaughan, arranging scores that showcased his unique ability to blend various musical genres. By 1956, he joined Dizzy Gillespie's big band as the music director, where he gained valuable experience in music composition and leadership.

In 1964, Jones became the first African American vice president of a major American record label, Mercury Records. He used this position to produce and arrange music for artists across genres, solidifying his reputation as a pioneering producer. During this period, Jones worked with Frank Sinatra on several albums, including the classic "Sinatra at the Sands" (1966), recorded with the Count Basie Orchestra. The collaboration would become one of the most celebrated artist-producer partnerships of all time.

Jones' influence extended beyond the music world into film and television. He began composing scores in the early 1960s, with his work on Sidney Lumet’s 1964 film The Pawnbroker, which broke new ground by blending jazz with traditional orchestration. This marked a new era for black composers in Hollywood. Over the next few decades, he composed scores for iconic films, including In the Heat of the Night (1967), The Italian Job (1969), and The Color Purple (1985). He became the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for his work on The Color Purple.

Jones was also instrumental in producing popular TV themes, such as the instantly recognizable theme for Sanford and Son, an influential sitcom featuring a predominantly Black cast.

Quincy Jones' most famous collaboration began in the late 1970s with Michael Jackson. Jones produced Jackson's 1979 album Off the Wall, a groundbreaking blend of pop, funk, and R&B that became one of the best-selling albums of all time. The pair's collaboration continued with 1982’s Thriller, which shattered records, selling over 100 million copies worldwide and becoming the best-selling album in history. Jones' innovative production techniques on Thriller changed the music landscape, blending rock, R&B, and pop with pioneering effects and complex orchestration. He also produced Jackson's Bad (1987), another commercial success.

In 1985, Jones assembled a star-studded lineup of musicians to record "We Are the World," a charity single co-written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. Featuring artists like Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, and Diana Ross, the song aimed to raise funds for African famine relief and became a global phenomenon, raising millions and inspiring similar initiatives worldwide. This project reflected Jones' deep commitment to humanitarian causes, and he has continued to use his platform for philanthropic efforts, especially in education and the arts.

Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Jones expanded his influence by founding the record label Qwest Records, which released albums by artists like New Order, Tevin Campbell, and later jazz greats. He also founded Vibe magazine, a publication dedicated to hip-hop and R&B culture, helping to bring urban music into the mainstream.

Jones has won 28 Grammy Awards from over 80 nominations, making him one of the most awarded individuals in Grammy history. He also received the Grammy Legend Award in 1991 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Beyond the Grammys, Jones has received numerous honors, including the Kennedy Center Honor in 2001 and the Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jones is known not only for his own musical genius but also for his mentorship of younger artists. He has guided countless musicians, producers, and singers, encouraging diversity and innovation in the music industry. From his production techniques to his advocacy for the Black community in music, Jones' influence can be seen across genres and generations.

Jones has been married three times and has seven children, many of whom have followed him into the entertainment industry. Known for his charisma and intellect, Jones has shared his insights in documentaries, interviews, and his autobiography, Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. The 2018 Netflix documentary Quincy, directed by his daughter Rashida Jones, offers an intimate look at his extraordinary life and career.

Through the final years of his life, Jones remained an active figure in music, continuing to influence artists and producers worldwide. His impact is a testament to the power of innovation, resilience, and a lifelong passion for music. As a pioneer, he has left an indelible mark on nearly every genre, embodying excellence and breaking countless barriers along the way.