Legendary Producer, Musician and Music Titan Quincy Jones Passed Away at 91
Music mogul and pioneer Quincy Jones passed away on November 3rd, 2024. Quincy molded the landscapes of jazz, soul, funk, hip hop, rock and more. Not only did he help to create so many iconic songs, album and artist, but he transcended culture as well. Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, says he died Sunday night at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. Jones was to have received an honorary Academy Award later this month. He was nominated for 80 Grammy’s during his lifetime.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family said 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.”
In the days before his death, Jones shared a loving message dedicated to his daughter Martina, who celebrated her 58th birthday on Friday, Nov. 1. The record producer shared a beautiful picture of himself and Martina smiling for the camera alongside the caption “Happy Birthday to my Tina Beena @martinafotos1!! 🎉. So proud to be yo papa! Big hug, I love you eternally 🫶🏾💜.”
Jones rose from running with gangs on the South Side of Chicago to the very heights of show business, becoming one of the first Black executives to thrive in Hollywood and amassing an extraordinary musical catalog that includes some of the richest moments of American rhythm and song. For years, it was unlikely to find a music lover who did not own at least one record with his name on it, or a leader in the entertainment industry and beyond who did not have some connection to him.
With producing credits for legends such as Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Lesley Gore, and Donna Summer, his impact on contemporary music is legendary. He embarked on a journey that had him starting a life as a touring musician, serving as Dizzy Gillespie’s musical director in the 1950s. Jones went on to arrange songs for Ray Charles, Count Basie, Dinah Washington, and others before incorporating synthesizers into his own practice. In the 1960s, Jones began work as Mercury Records’ vice president. He concentrated on music for the small and big screen, eventually scoring nearly 40 films and hundreds of TV shows. When you look at the vast scope of his career, accolades and accomplishments it’s hard to believe that this was done by one person.
A brain aneurysm in 1974 caused Jones to temporarily lighten his workload. He reflected on his health scare years later in a social media post.
“While operating for 7.5 hours, my doctors discovered a second aneurysm that was ready to blow, so they had to schedule a second operation. During this time, it didn’t look too promising, so my friends planned a memorial service for me at The Shrine in LA, & I basically attended my own funeral,” Jones wrote. “Man, everyone was there…Sidney Poitier, Sarah Vaughan, you name it. It was special to see so many people there to celebrate what would’ve been my 41 years of life.”
In 1985, he was a driving force behind “We Are the World,” producing the single with Michael Omartian to raise money for those beset by famine in Ethiopia. Among the artists who participated were Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Huey Lewis, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and many more. If you haven’t seen it yet do yourself a favor and watch The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix.
The man was an absolute force in music, film, and everything art. He was truly one of a kind and just writing all of his accomplishments would take me hours to scribe and I am sure I would still miss a bunch. Turn up Quincy loud today.
Jones leaves behind seven children: Jolie Jones Levine (with former wife, actress Jeri Caldwell), Martina Jones and Quincy Jones III (with second wife, model Ulla Andersson), Kidada Jones and “The Office” actress Rasida Jones (with third wife, “Mod Squad” actress Peggy Lipton), Rachel Jones (with Carol Reynolds) and Kenya Julia Miambi Sarah Jones (with actress Nastassja Kinski).
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