Quincy Jones, legendary music producer and entertainment icon, has passed away at 91.
Known for his collaborations with stars like Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, and Will Smith, Jones left an indelible mark on the music industry.
His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that Jones died peacefully on Sunday night surrounded by family at his Bel Air, Los Angeles home.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family said in a statement. “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.”
Jones rose to prominence as the producer behind Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking “Thriller” album. The creative pair began collaborating on the set of “The Wiz,” where Jones first worked with the young pop star. This partnership led to Jackson’s hit album “Off the Wall,” which sold 20 million copies and was followed by the iconic “Thriller” and “Bad” albums.
Over a remarkable 75-year career, Jones won numerous awards, including 28 Grammy Awards—making him the second most-awarded artist in Grammy history—with a record 80 nominations since 1961. The music icon won Producer of the Year three times and received two Grammy Awards each for Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
Born on March 14, 1933, on Chicago’s South Side, Jones attributed his father’s strong work ethic to motivating him and his nurturing spirit for keeping their family united.
Jones’ mother struggled with emotional issues and was eventually institutionalized, a loss that Jones said made him feel the world was senseless. Much of his time in Chicago was spent on the streets, entangled with gangs, stealing, and fighting.
“There are two kinds of people,” he once shared with Oprah Winfrey: “those who have nurturing parents or caretakers, and those who don’t. Nothing’s in between.”
In the 1950s, Jones gained recognition as a jazz arranger and conductor before transitioning to pop music and film scores.
Early in his career, he worked closely with Frank Sinatra, transforming the singer’s classic “Fly Me to the Moon” from a gentle waltz into an energetic swing number, redefining the song’s style and impact.
His 1974 album “Body Heat” reached number six on the Billboard 200 chart. Over his career, he released 13 Hot 100 songs and numerous Top 20 albums. In 1995, he became the first African American recipient of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Jones’s social activism took root in the 1960s when he supported the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He co-founded the Institute for Black American Music (IBAM), an organization dedicated to funding a national library of African-American art and music. He also supported numerous charities, including the NAACP, GLAAD, Peace Games, amfAR, and the Maybach Foundation.
As a music executive, Jones shattered racial barriers, becoming a vice president at Mercury Records in the early 1960s. In 1971, Jones made history as the first African American to serve as the musical director and conductor for the Academy Awards. His debut film production, “The Color Purple,” earned 11 Oscar nominations in 1986. Through a partnership with Time Warner, he launched Quincy Jones Entertainment, which included Vibe magazine and Qwest Broadcasting, eventually selling the company for $270 million in 1999.
“My philosophy as a businessman has always come from the same roots as my personal credo: take talented people on their own terms and treat them fairly and with respect, no matter who they are or where they come from,” Jones wrote in his autobiography.
Quincy Jones is survived by his children: Rashida and Kidada Jones, Kenya Kinski-Jones, Quincy Jones III, Jolie Jones Levine, and Martina and Rachel Jones. He leaves behind three grandchildren. He was also godfather to actor-musician Quincy Brown, who is named in his honor.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.