American music producer Quincy Jones has passed away at the age of 91. He was renowned for producing Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” album and for his collaborations
with Frank Sinatra.
Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer, has passed away at the age of 91 in Los Angeles. He was the mastermind behind Michael Jackson’s iconic albums Thriller, Off the Wall, and Bad, and collaborated with renowned artists such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Jones, a multi-talented music titan, left behind a vast legacy that included not only producing Jackson’s historic works but also writing award-winning scores for film and television and working with hundreds of other recording artists. His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that he died Sunday night at his home in Bel Air, surrounded by family.
What is Quincy Jones’s estimated net worth?
Quincy Jones is an American musical conductor, record producer, trumpeter, musical arranger, and television producer with an estimated net worth of $500 million. Throughout his career, which has spanned over six decades, he has been a vital force in the music industry. While Jones is a talented musician in his own right, he is perhaps best known for his songwriting and production work. He has collaborated with some of the most remarkable musicians of our time and has received numerous awards for his dedicated contributions to music. His production efforts with Michael Jackson alone have led to over 130 million records sold. Each time a Quincy Jones-produced album or song by Michael Jackson is sold or played commercially, he earns a royalty.
Early Life
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. was born on March 14, 1933. His family participated in the “Great Migration,” moving to Chicago while Quincy and his brother were still young. Quincy’s early exposure to music came from religious songs, and he had the opportunity to practice piano at his next-door neighbor’s house, who owned one. However, during his childhood, Quincy’s mother experienced a schizophrenic breakdown and was admitted to a mental hospital. His father divorced her, remarried, and his new wife brought three children into the family. Later, Quincy’s father and stepmother would have three more children together.
When World War II began, the family moved to Washington, where his father found work at a naval shipyard. After the war, they relocated to Seattle, where Quincy attended high school. During this time, he received a musical education, honed his composition skills, and became an accomplished trumpet player. At just 14 years old, he connected with prominent jazz musicians in Seattle and introduced himself to Ray Charles.
In 1951, Quincy Jones received a scholarship to Seattle University, where one of his classmates was a young Clint Eastwood. However, he only spent one semester there before transferring to Berklee College of Music in Boston. While he continued his studies, he also played jazz at local bars at night. Eventually, Jones realized that it was time for him to embark on his professional music career.
Career
After leaving college, Quincy Jones moved to New York, where his skills as an arranger quickly gained recognition, even as he continued to book gigs as a trumpet player. One of his first jobs was playing in a band that supported Elvis Presley’s debut televised performances in 1956. Following a world tour, he settled in Paris, where he eventually took on the role of music director for Barclay, a French record label.
In 1961, Quincy Jones was appointed vice president of Mercury, the parent company of Barclay and a prominent record label in the United States. During this period, he began composing music for films, starting with The Pawnbroker. His talent for creating movie scores quickly became recognized, leading to a successful career as a highly sought-after composer for Hollywood producers. Notable films like The Italian Job, The Getaway, and The Deadly Affair all featured scores by Quincy Jones. He also demonstrated a flair for writing theme songs for various television shows, including The Bill Cosby Show, Roots, Mad TV, and many others.
What is Quincy Jones most famous for?
In the 1980s, Quincy Jones played a key role in some of the most significant and beloved moments in music history. He produced or co-produced three of Michael Jackson’s best-selling albums, including the record-breaking *Thriller* released in 1982, and was deeply involved in the creation of USA for Africa’s 1985 charity single, “We Are the World.”
What role did Quincy Jones play in Michael Jackson’s career?
Throughout his career, Quincy Jones played a pivotal role in transforming Michael Jackson into a mega-star by producing a trilogy of albums that positioned the pop singer as one of the most recognized musicians globally. He also raised tens of millions for victims of the Ethiopian famine by producing the chart-topping song “We Are the World” and won 28 Grammy Awards.
Which Quincy Jones daughter was with Tupac?
Kidada Jones, the daughter of Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton, was in a relationship with Tupac Shakur from 1996 until his death. Prior to that, she dated LL Cool J from 1992 to 1994. Kidada and her sister Rashida are both actresses.