Quincy Jones, the famous American singer and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and many others, has died at the age of 91.
Jones’ spokesman, Arnold Robinson, said he died “peacefully” Sunday night at his home in Bel Air.
“Tonight, with full but sad hearts, we must share the news of the passing of my father and brother Quincy Jones. And while this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life he lived and know there will never be another like him,” the family said in a statement.
Jones is best known as the producer of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.
In a career that spanned more than 75 years, he won 28 Grammy Awards and was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time magazine.
He worked closely with Sinatra and reworked the crooner’s classic Fly Me To The Moon, taking it from a waltz to a swing.
In the film The Wiz, Jones found himself working with a 19-year-old Michael Jackson. He went on to produce Jackson’s Off the Wall album and the pop star’s follow-up Thriller – which sold 34 million copies in the US alone – and Bad.
In 1985, Jones gathered 46 of the most popular American musicians of the time, including Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper, to record We Are the World.
Jones co-wrote the song to raise money for those suffering from a devastating famine in Ethiopia. The record was the US equivalent of Band Aid’s Do They Know It’s Christmas.
The song reached number one in the UK and US and was performed at Live Aid.
Getty ImagesJones also composed the soundtrack for over 50 films and TV shows including the 1969 British film, The Italian Job.
Michael Caine, who starred in The Italian Job, paid tax to Jones on Xcalling him “a titan in the world of music”.
“He was an amazing and unique person, lucky to have known him.”
Sir Elton John also praised Jones and he said “no one had as good a career as him, writing: “He played with the best and produced the best. What a boy. He loved her.”
TV producer Shonda Rhimes called him “legend, visionary, pioneer”.
On the big screen, Jones produced the film The Color Purple, which introduced the public to two actors who were unknown at the time – Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.
Posting a tribute on Instagram, Goldberg said he was “one of a kind”.
On the small screen, he was one of the producers behind the hit TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.
But it was music where Jones excelled – and winning multiple Grammys, including a legendary award in 1992, was also recognized by Emmys, Tonys and Oscars.
Jones was married three times and had seven children, including music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, known for the US version of The Office.
Getty ImagesJones’ family said the musician was “one of a kind” and that “through his music and boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat forever”.
One of the first to pay the tax was a playwright Jeremy O’Harris, who wrote in X that “Jones’ contributions to American culture were immeasurable”, noting that he was the first black Oscar nominee for best score among his other achievements.
Rapper LL Cool J, who briefly dated Jones’ daughter Kidada Jones, said on Instagram that Jones “was a father and a role model at a time when I really needed a father”.
He added: “Mentor. A good example. Lord. You gave me opportunities and shared wisdom. Music would not be music without you.”
Singer Victoria Monét he said “Jones’ legacy will live on forever and ever” and the singer Nile Rodgers posted on X: “Rest in Strength”.
Ice T also paid tribute and wrote: “Genius is a loosely applied description but it is not deserved. I have nothing, Quincy was the MAN. I won my first Grammy with Quincy and I live with his Wisdom every day.”
Singer Darius Rucker said “We have lost one of the stars of all time”, said the British DJ Tony Blackburn wrote to X that Jones was a “musical genius”.
Montreux Jazz Festival CEO Mathieu Jaton, who has worked with Quincy for many years, said Jones’ spirit will “live forever” in the festival’s history.
He added that Jones, as co-producer in the 1990s, “helped take the festival to new heights”.
