Quincy Delight Jones a visionary music producer, composer, and arranger, has left an indelible mark on the music industry.
His passing on Sunday night at his Los Angeles home, surrounded by family, marks the end of an era.
Arnold Robinson, Jones’ publicist, disclosed the news, which was confirmed by the Jones family in a heartfelt statement: “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing.” They celebrated his life, acknowledging, “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we know there will never be another like him.”
Jones worked with a plethora of notable names in the entertainment industry, including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Will Smith. Among his best-known credits was as the producer of Jackson’s historic ‘Thriller’ album. The project sold more than 20 million copies in 1983 alone and is among the best-selling albums of all time. The music composer and songwriter also oversaw the all-star recording of the 1985 charity record ‘We Are The World’.
Born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago’s South Side, Jones rose to prominence in the 1950s as a jazz arranger and conductor before transitioning to pop music and film scores. He broke barriers with historic milestones, including becoming the first African American nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song (1968), musical director and conductor of the Academy Awards (1971), and recipient of the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (1995).
Jones’ impressive career was marked by 28 Grammy Awards out of 80 nominations, and he was named one of Time magazine’s most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century.
