Music producer and composer Quincy Jones, who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, died at the age of 91.
Quincy Jonesversatile music giant whose legacy extends to the production of the groundbreaking album Thriller michael jackson The artist, who collaborated with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and hundreds of other artists, died at the age of 91. Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that he died Sunday night at his home in the Bel Air neighborhood. Los Angelessurrounded by his family.
“Tonight, heart full but broken“We must share the news of the passing of our father and brother, Quincy Jones,” the family said in a statement. “While this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the wonderful life he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Career JonesHis work spanning over 70 years has led to him winning 28 awards Grammy out of a total of 80 candidates. He was one of the first black executives to succeed. HollywoodIt brings together an extraordinary catalog of music that includes some of the richest moments in American song.
For years, it was hardly possible to find a music lover who did not have at least one record to his name, or a leader in the entertainment industry and beyond who did not have some connection with him. ‘Time’ magazine named him one of the world’s musicians. jazz The most influential of the 20th century.
Jones He was with presidents and foreign leaders, movie stars and musicians, philanthropists and businessmen. He toured with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton. Edited records by Frank Sinatra and Ella FitzgeraldHe composed the soundtracks for ‘Roots’ and ‘In the Heat of the Night’, organized President Bill Clinton’s first inauguration and oversaw the recording of the 1985 charity album ‘We Are the World’. Famine in Africa.
Lionel Richie, who co-wrote ‘We Are the World’ and one of the singers featured on the song, described Jones as a “master orchestrator”. A career that began when records were still played on vinyl at 78rpm, the biggest accolades will probably go to his productions. michael jackson: ‘Off the Wall’, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’ were almost universal albums in terms of their style and appeal. Jones’ versatility and imagination helped unleash Jackson’s explosive talent in his transformation from child star to ‘King of Pop’.
Jones and Jackson created songs on classic songs like “Billie Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” A global soundscape based on music disco, funk, rock, pop, R&B and jazz and African songs. Some of the most memorable touches for ‘Thriller’ came from Jones. Jones recruited Eddie Van Halen for a guitar solo on the genre-bending ‘Beat It’ and Vincent Price for a terrifying voice-over on the title track.
‘Thriller’ sold over 20 million copies in 1983 alone, rivaling the Eagles’ ‘Greatest Hits 1971-1975’ as the best-selling album of all time. “If an album doesn’t do well, everyone says ‘it’s the producers’ fault,’ so if it does well, it must be ‘your fault, too,'” Jones said in a 2016 interview with the Library of Congress. “Clues don’t come out of nowhere. The producer must have the skill, experience and talent to guide the vision to completion.”
His list of honors and awards includes 28 Grammys, two honorary Academy Awards and an Emmy for Roots. He also received the Legion of Honor. FranceRepublic’s Rudolph Valentino Award Italy and a tribute from the Kennedy Center for his contributions to American culture. A documentary called Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones and a 2018 film by his daughter Rashida Jones were dedicated to him in 1990. The father of seven children, he was married three times to Jeri Caldwell, Ulla Andersson and Peggy Lipton.
