Quincy Jones Passes Away at 91: A Lasting Legacy in Music
Quincy Jones, the legendary composer and producer, has passed away at the age of 91. He died on Sunday night at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles. His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed the news through various outlets, including The Hollywood Reporter and the Associated Press.
In a heartfelt statement, Jones' family shared their grief: "Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. We celebrate the great life he lived and know there will never be another like him."
Quincy Jones was born in March 1933 in Chicago, then moved to Bremerton, Washington. His musical journey began early, with studies in trumpet and piano throughout high school. Jones attended Seattle University before transferring to Berklee College of Music but dropped out to perform as a trumpeter, arranger, and pianist for Lionel Hampton's band.
Upon returning to New York after a European tour in the late '50s, Jones gained fame by composing and arranging pop hits for numerous artists, including Count Basie, Dinah Washington, and Aretha Franklin. In the 1970s, he founded Qwest Productions, producing several albums for icons like Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. His work on Michael Jackson's Thriller, released in 1982, led to the album becoming the best-selling album in history.
Jones reflected on Thriller's impact in a 2016 interview: "We knew we had ‘it’ with Thriller. It’s no accident that, over three decades later, in every club, you hear ‘Billie Jean’ or ‘Thriller.’ From prison yards in Thailand to Thrilltheworld.com, Thriller is still giving people ‘goosebumps.’"
In addition to his work in pop music, Jones had a successful career as a film and television composer. His breakthrough came from scoring Sidney Lumet’s 1964 film The Pawnbroker. After its success, he became a sought-after composer for films such as The Getaway and The Out-of-Towners. He also created theme music for several popular TV shows, including Sanford and Son and the mini-series Roots.
His work as a film producer began with The Color Purple in 1985, earning him an Oscar nomination for his score. In the 1990s, he founded Quincy Jones Entertainment, producing hit shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Jones garnered numerous accolades during his illustrious career, including 28 Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. He received the Grammy Legend Award and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
Alongside his professional achievements, Jones' personal life often made headlines. He was married three times and had seven children with five different women. He married Jeri Caldwell in 1957, welcoming daughter Jolie. After they divorced in 1966, he had a brief affair with Carol Reynolds, who had his second daughter, Rachel. Jones married Ulla Andersson from 1967 to 1974, with whom he had two children, Martina and Quincy Jr. He then wed actress Peggy Lipton, with whom he had daughters Kidada and Rashida, before divorcing in 1990. He later dated actress Nastassja Kinski from 1991 to 1995, who bore him daughter Kenya.
Jones leaves behind a monumental legacy and is survived by his seven children.