look back at ten of his biggest hits

Quincy Jones has a 70-year career with 28 Grammy Awards for 80 nominations, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and even an election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The American trumpeter, composer and producer, who died on Sunday November 3 at the age of 91, has nearly 1,600 titles to his credit and worked with musical giants like Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra. Le Figaro looks back at his ten greatest hits.

We are the world

This is probably his greatest piece. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian, We Are the World is one of the best-selling singles in the world with more than twenty million copies sold. The multi-awarded song became a real hit parade upon its release in 1985 and is still used today for numerous charity events. The history of the creation of this title is also explained in the Netflix documentary, The Greatest Night In Popavailable since January.

Thriller

Flagship title of Michael Jackson's discography produced by Quincy Jones, Thriller is a staple of Disco-funk Music and a true Halloween anthem. The horrific track mixes unusual sound effects such as creaking door noises, wolf cries and even sarcastic laughter. Thriller is also accompanied by a video clip that has now become cult.

Fly me to the Moon

Quincy Jones has distinguished himself in different musical genres. The producer notably arranged the jazz title Fly me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra in 1964, ten years after its release. Quincy Jones increased the tempo to make the song more energetic and explosive », explains music critic Will Friedwald, who has worked notably for the New York Times.

Oh in the race

Quincy Jones also regained the title Ai No Corrida by Chaz Jankel in 1981. The title, which refers to the Japanese erotic film The Empire of the Senses is a reference of Street funk which paves the way for R&B of the 80s. The composer and producer also won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental and Vocal Arrangement in 1982 for this song.

Soul Bossa Nova

The instrumental of this song appearing in his album Big Band Bossa Nova released in 1962 was composed in just twenty minutes. The title which has sounds of cuíca, transverse flute, piano or even saxophone is also present in the soundtrack of certain films such as The Pawnbroker de Sidney LumetTake the sorrel and get out by Woody Allen and in the series Glee.

Give Me the night

Quincy Jones also produced Give Me the Night, the biggest success of guitarist and singer George Benson. The song was nominated in 1981 for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and an American Music Award for Best Soul/R&B Song. It also ranked in numerous charts around the world.

Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough

Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough is one of the many Michael Jackson titles produced by Quincy Jones. For the anecdote, the pop star claimed at the time that the melody came to him in 1978 while he was at the Jackson residence in Encino, and that once in the head, he could no longer remember it. 'forget.

Stomp!

Quincy Jones also produced the early 1980s hit Stomp! performed by the Brothers Johnson. The song, from the fourth album Light Up the Night the duo reached number one on the R&B and disco singles charts and the top ten on the pop singles chart. It was then covered by BG, the Prince of Rap in the 1990s, a cover which was once again successful.

One Mint Julep

Song originally performed by The Clovers in 1951, One Mint Julep has been covered by around a hundred artists, starting with Quincy Jones. The latter arranged the group's title to appear on the album Genius + Soul = Jazz by Ray Charles, a record essentially composed of rhythm and blues and jazz standards.

Billie Jean

Another unmissable success from the Michael Jackson/Quincy Jones duo. The song, released in 1982, reached the top of many charts around the world. Billie Jean was also crowned 58^e best song of all time by magazine Rolling Stone in 2004.