Los Angeles—The world of music is mourning the loss of Quincy Jones, the prolific producer, composer, and cultural pioneer, who passed away at his Bel Air home Sunday night at the age of 91. Surrounded by family, Jones left behind a monumental legacy that defined generations of music and influenced nearly every corner of the entertainment industry.
Jones’ family released a heartfelt statement, saying, “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. 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.”
Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones’ journey began on the city’s South Side, where he rose from a troubled childhood, marked by gang violence and personal challenges, to become one of the first Black executives in Hollywood. He defied stereotypes and broke barriers, developing a career that spanned more than seven decades and shaped the sound of American music. His catalog of work includes iconic collaborations with legendary artists like Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald, and genre-defining albums with Michael Jackson, including Off the Wall, Bad, and Thriller—the latter often cited as the best-selling album of all time.
Jones’ contributions to the music world are unparalleled. He arranged records with the likes of Sinatra, and his production of Thriller introduced an innovative blend of pop, rock, funk, R&B, and jazz that transformed Michael Jackson into the “King of Pop.” Jones brought memorable touches to the album, such as Eddie Van Halen’s electrifying guitar solo on “Beat It” and Vincent Price’s eerie voiceover on the title track. Thriller sold over 20 million copies in 1983 alone, etching its place in music history.
In addition to his groundbreaking work with Jackson, Jones co-wrote and organized the all-star charity anthem “We Are the World” in 1985, alongside Lionel Richie, for African famine relief. Richie described Jones as “the master orchestrator,” a fitting tribute to a man whose musical genius touched so many lives.
Beyond music, Jones’ influence extended to social causes and philanthropy. He founded the Quincy Jones Listen Up! Foundation to provide underprivileged children with access to music, culture, and technology. His other humanitarian efforts included raising awareness for HIV and AIDS and advocating for education and poverty relief.
Jones’ accolades were extensive. His numerous awards include 28 Grammys, an honorary Academy Award, an Emmy for Roots, and honors from France, Italy, and the United States, including a Kennedy Center tribute. He was the subject of the 1990 documentary Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones and a 2018 film directed by his daughter Rashida Jones. His 2001 autobiography, Q, revealed a man driven by an insatiable love for music and what he called “a criminal level of optimism.”
Jones is survived by his seven children—Rashida, Kidada, Kenya, Martina, Rachel, Jolie, and Quincy III—along with his brother Richard Jones and sisters Theresa Frank and Margie Jay. His legacy will live on in the music, culture, and countless lives he impacted.
For Quincy Jones, music was more than a career; it was a life-long sanctuary. “Life is like a dream,” he wrote in his memoir. “Mine’s been in Technicolor, with full Dolby sound through THX amplification before they knew what these systems were.”
Credit: AP
