The legendary music figure Quincy Jones, who collaborated with iconic artists like Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and Ray Charles, has passed away at the age of 91.
Arnold Robinson, his publicist, confirmed the sad news and released a statement from Jones’ family that expressed, “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’s 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.”
The family did not disclose the cause of death, stating that Jones was ‘truly one of a kind’.
“We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created,” the statement continued.
“Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’s heart will beat for eternity.”
Jones enjoyed a remarkable career in music, earning an impressive 28 Grammy Awards from 80 nominations.
Although he had many notable achievements, his most significant might be producing Michael Jackson’s legendary ‘Thriller’ album.
Additionally, he composed the score for the classic 1969 film, ‘The Italian Job,’ and played a key role in the creation of the 1985 charity single ‘We Are The World’.
The album ‘Thriller’ gave Jones his greatest financial success, selling an astounding 20 million copies in its first year of release alone in 1983.
In a 2016 interview with the Library of Congress, Jones reflected on the impact of ‘Thriller’ in the music world and the dedication involved in its creation.
He remarked, “If an album doesn’t do well, everyone says ‘it was the producer’s fault’; so if it does well, it should be your ‘fault’ too.
“The tracks don’t just all of a sudden appear. The producer has to have the skill, experience and ability to guide the vision to completion.”
Before his illustrious music journey, Jones faced a challenging upbringing, including his mother’s admission to a mental health facility.
Born in Chicago in 1933, he spent much of his youth on the streets, getting into various troubles.
Recalling a childhood incident, Jones told the Associated Press in 2018, “They nailed my hand to a fence with a switchblade, man.”
Fortunately, music became Jones’s saving grace, with his passion for the industry igniting when he first played the trumpet.