Quincy Jones pictured in Beverly Hills in 2017.
Chris Delmas/AFP by way of Getty Photos
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Chris Delmas/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Quincy Jones pictured in Beverly Hills in 2017.
Chris Delmas/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Quincy Jones, whose adorned music profession ran from the early Nineteen Fifties via the best-known works of Michael Jackson and past, died Sunday. He was 91.
His demise was confirmed by his publicist in a press release to NPR that didn’t point out the reason for demise. The assertion mentioned that Jones died peacefully at his house in Bel Air, California.
Within the Eighties, Jones helped oversee a few of music’s greatest and most generally beloved moments: He produced or co-produced three of Michael Jackson’s best-selling albums, together with 1982’s record-setting Thriller, and was closely concerned in crafting USA for Africa’s 1985 charity single “We Are the World.” However his profession prolonged for many years in every path. Jones lengthy held the report for many Grammy nominations with 80, earlier than Jay-Z and Beyoncé surpassed the whole earlier this decade, and his 28 wins rank him third behind Beyoncé (32) and conductor Georg Solti (31).
Born Quincy Delight Jones in 1933, Jones received his begin in jazz — at 19, he performed trumpet in Lionel Hampton’s band — and shortly carried out on levels with a few of the world’s best-known stars: Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley.
Within the Nineteen Sixties, Jones turned a adorned movie composer — he collected three of his seven profession Academy Award nominations in 1968 and ’69 — in addition to a high-profile music-industry government, arranger and producer. On albums like The Nice Extensive World of Quincy Jones and Quincy Jones Performs Hip Hits, he was the headliner, however he additionally labored behind the scenes, producing (amongst many others) a string of bestselling hits for Lesley Gore.
Within the ’70s, Jones remained within the highlight as a performer and government, increasing his attain with high-profile tasks such because the soundtrack to The Wiz. However the Eighties discovered his title hooked up to a outstanding string of successes, from “We Are the World” and Thriller to his first foray into movie manufacturing: 1985’s The Coloration Purple, which made film stars of Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. Jones’ star-packed Again on the Block, launched in 1989, received the Grammy for album of the 12 months in 1991.
Jones’ successes prolonged effectively past music and movie. Shortly after launching Quincy Jones Leisure in 1990, he was presiding over long-running TV hits reminiscent of The Recent Prince of Bel-Air and MADtv. His 2001 ebook Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones detailed his many intersections with music’s greatest moments and stars, in addition to his mental-health battles and rocky upbringing in Chicago. Jones’ philanthropic works prolonged effectively past USA for Africa and benefited causes reminiscent of music preservation, arts schooling and assist for underprivileged youth.
Jones’ tumultuous private life included three marriages and 7 youngsters, together with actresses Kidada and Rashida Jones — his daughters with actress Peggy Lipton — and Kenya Kinski-Jones, a vogue mannequin whose mom is German actress and mannequin Nastassja Kinski.
