Quincy Jones, musical giant and entertainment legend passes away at the age of 91
Quincy Jones, a legendary musician, producer and arranger who left his creative mark on recordings featuring such greats as Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, etc. has passed away, aged 91, say his representatives.
As per his publicist, Jones passed away on a Sunday evening at his residence in Bel Air, California, while some of his children, siblings, and other close relatives were present.
“In the evening, we must share the sad news concerning our father and brother Quincy Jones to the outside world with both heavy and light hearts,” read the statement from the Jones family. “This is a tremendous loss to this family. But in as much as that is the case, he lived an incredibly rich life – and there will never be another this man. He is one in a million, and it will hurt not having him around; and it is with an enormous sense of pride and solace that knowing that the love and happiness, which was inherent in his being, the world got to experience through everything that he did, brings us. Quincy’s musical talents and the love he gifted the world with will make sure his heartbeat never fades away.”
A famous jazz and pop artist, Jones was a cross-genre producer and director, ran a record label, fought for civil rights. His talent and determination enabled him to reach an almost incomprehensible level in show business. His long and varied list of credits can include composing the Oscar-winning film “In the Heat of the Night,” production of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album, and bringing together many pop & rock singers to record the charity song “We Are the World” in 1985.
To a carpenter dad in Chicago and a mentally ill mom, Jones gained interest in music from a very young age and started playing the piano.
The family later relocated to Seattle, Washington, and Jones commenced studies under the legendary trumpeter Clark Terry.
At this time he also met a young pianist by the name of Ray Charles and they became friends. This was a friendship that was destined to last forever.
A teenage Jones commenced jazz performances with bands, due to his skills in writing and arranging jazz music that caught the attention of band leader Lionel Hampton.
Jones was just 15 years old when Hampton asked him to join the group on tour, something that Gladys, Hampton’s wife, immediately squashed.
“I got on the band bus right away, and Gladys got on and said, ‘Hamp, what’s that child doing on the bus?’” Jones expressed during an interview by the National Endowment for the Arts. “And I was, how do you say this politely, so very hurt. And she was like, ‘Get him off here. Make him go back to school. We’ll call him later when he gets his schooling.’”
Jones complied with the instructions and went on to complete his education, got a scholarship to attend Schillinger House which is presently Boston’s Berklee College of Music and graduated from there in the year 1951.
In year 1961 Jones became a part of Mercury Records as the its artists-and-repertoire director. Three years later, he gained notoriety when he became a vice president making him the first African American man to ever work for a record company owned by white people, as such.
With the release of the single “It’s My Party” by Leslie Gore in 1963 Jones earned his first pop music hit – the single topping at number one. In addition, the label had other artists such as Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee whom Jones also collaborated with.
That same year he scored his first of many awards recognizing his contribution and involvement in the music industry, winning the first one for arranging the Count Basie Band interpretation of “I Can’t Stop Loving You”.
Also in the 1960s, Jones began writing and composing incidental music for films including the films In The Heat of the Night and In Cold Blood.
From 1969-1981 he was signed to A&M Records and started his own record company, Qwest Records.
One of Jones’ most well-known collaborations was producing Michael Jackson’s Sarah LP titled ‘Thriller’ in 1982.
In 1985, three years later, he invited Jackson and a number of other celebrities to contribute to the charity single ‘We Are The World’ which he produced. The same year, he produced a film entitled “The Color Purple” directed by Steven Spielberg, which was also a box office success.
Jones also achieved recognition on the small screen with the television show as well as the television series which starred his protégé Will Smith – “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
Jones entered the publishing arena in 1993 when he established the music/cultural magazine Vibe which he later sold in 2006.
In 1974 Jones suffered a brain aneurysm and because of that he had to cut back on his work and spend more time with his family.
He divorced three times and begot sevens with five women.
Jones wed Jeri Caldwell, his spouse from 1957-1966, with whom he had a daughter named Jolie.
He married a Swedish model Ulla Andersson in 1967 with whom he had two kids, Martina and Quincy Jones the third before parting ways in 1974.
That same year Jones married actress Peggy Lipton, which lasted until 1990 and the couple had two daughters actress Rashida Jones and Kidada Jones.
From another women, Carol Reynolds, a dancer, he had a daughter Rachel, a daughter too – fashion model Kenya Kinski-Jones – came from the actress Nastassja Kinski.
Fifthly, Jones did not take any rest or relaxation in the personal life or any other aspect even when he got older. For instance, he was the executive producer for the documentary film entitled ‘Keep on Keepin’ On which focused on his teacher, jazz trumpet Clark Terry in the year 2014.
While contemplating on his life in that year, Jones mentioned in an interview with Rolling Stone, “I never thought about it until I hit 80, but I have been fortunate enough to be in the company of every big music star in the history of this country even Louie Armstrong.”
“Such things are not designed,” Jones remarked. “I remember a meeting with Mr. Sinatra where I told him, ‘I would like to collaborate with you.’ Someone replied, ‘You work with him on his schedule.’”
