Quincy Jones was well-known for his collaborations with Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra. On Sunday evening, he died.
Quincy Jones, best renowned for his collaborations with Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson, died on Sunday night. The well-known American music composer and record producer passed away in his Bel Air, Los Angeles, home.
Arnold Robinson, Jones’ publicist, provided a statement released by the producer’s family after his passing. “We must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing tonight with full but broken hearts. 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,” the Guardian said.
The work that Jones did with Michael Jackson is what made him most famous. He was the producer of Michael Jackson’s legendary album Thriller, which went on to become the best-selling album of all time with 65 million copies sold. His incredible journey from the South Side streets of Chicago to the entertainment world is quite extraordinary. He established a career that includes some of the most important contributions to American rhythm and song as one of the first Black executives in Hollywood.
Jones interacted with fellow musicians, presidents, foreign dignitaries, and Hollywood stars over his career. He orchestrated songs for celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, performed with jazz greats like Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, and wrote the music for films like Roots and In the Heat of the Night.
His 2001 autobiography Q enumerates the many honors and accolades he has been bestowed with. Jones’ 18-page work on Roots has won him an Emmy, two honorary Academy Awards, and 28 Grammy Awards. For his important contributions to American culture, he was also honored with the Rudolph Valentino Award from Italy, the Legion d’Honneur from France, and a Kennedy Center homage. His legacy was further cemented when his memoir became a best-seller.
