Iconic music producer has died aged 91. As the man behind countless records and soundtracks and the winner of 28 Grammy Awards, his legacy looms large. Tributes are flooding in from his friends, peers and admirers across the music and film work.
Jones spanned both the realms of music and cinema. As a record producer, he worked with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and more. However, he’s most notable for his long-running collaborations with Michael Jackson. It began in 1979 with Off The Wall as Jones played an instrumental role in helping Jackson to become the biggest pop star in the world. They worked together on several projects, including Thriller, which has sold more than 120 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling album of all time.
But Jones also played an essential role in the world of film. As well as producing albums, he also crafted soundtracks. He made the music of the 1967 adaptation of Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, as well as scores for movies like The Italian Job, The Color Purple, The Wiz and more.
A statement from Jones’ family read, “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. 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.” With such a powerful legacy, many people are celebrating and paying tribute to Jones’ life and work.
Actor and playwright Jeremy O Harris took to X to highlight Jones’ history-making life, stating on X: “What couldn’t he do? Quincy Jones, literally born when the limits on how big a black boy could dream were unfathomably high, taught us that the limit does not exist. His contributions to American culture were limitless. First black person nominated for an Oscar for best score. First black person nominated later twice in the same year. The producer of inarguably the biggest albums of the 20th century. An EGOT.”
He also paid tribute to Jones’ family by saying, “Father to some of pretty incredibly talented children as well and godfather to musicians around the world.”
Ezra Collective’s drummer Femi Koleoso recalled a personal memory with Jones as he wrote on X: “Masterful musician and beautiful soul. Rest in peace and eternally grateful for seeing something in me and my brothers all those years ago. Playing at your birthday party with @EzraCollective was an opportunity that changed our lives for ever. Rest in peace Quincy Jones.”
Otto Von Biz Markie, the editor-in-chief of POW Mag and founder of POW recordings, wrote: “RIP Quincy Jones, who defined the highest level of musical genius for 5 generations. Perhaps the greatest producer & soundtrack composer of all-time. The most quotable, the coolest, who made everything from Thriller to Vibe to the Fresh Prince. Who did it all, better than anyone.”
Ted Gioia, the author of The History of Jazz and Delta Blues, amongst other books, shared a tribute on X that said: “RIP Quincy Jones, who leaves us at age 91. No musician of his generation moved so effortlessly and brilliantly between styles and settings—collaborating with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson to Miles Davis. What a remarkable career!”
Perhaps the most notable tribute came from Paul McCartney, “He was supremely talented, and I felt privileged to have known him for many years. He was friends with George Martin, the Beatles’ producer and, between the two of them, produced some very fine music.”
Adding: “Quincy or ‘Quince’ or ‘Q’, as he was known, always had a twinkle in his eye and had a very positive, loving spirit which infected everyone who knew him. His work with Michael Jackson is, of course, legendary and he had so many other strings to his musical bow. My main recollections of him were always the private moments that we shared, and I will never stop thanking Nancy for always arranging to visit him when we were in Los Angeles. These visits were fun and inspiring”.
McCartney continued: “His long career stretches back to the early days when he was a trumpet player, then a band leader, then a producer of many great records. But it is as a friend I would like to remember him. We always had fun in his presence and his legend will continue through the years, but it is those private moments we were lucky enough to have with the great man that I will always remember fondly.
“We send our love and sympathies to his family and all his many friends”.
Jones is most often remembered as Michael Jackson’s longtime collaborator, including the albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad. McCartney had previously collaborated with Jones during his numerous duets with fellow music superstars, including the duet ‘The Girl is Mine’.
