The legendary American musician and producer, who notably worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, died at the age of 91.
The legendary American musician and producer Quincy Jones died on the night of Sunday November 3 to Monday November 4, 2024 at his home in Los Angeles, his family announced in a press release relayed by the agency Associated Press. He was 91 years old.
Famous for having worked with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer and Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones is at the origin of numerous albums with global success such as Off The Wall, Thriller or Bad.
Considered one of the greatest music producers, he had been awarded 28 Grammy Awards in his career.
“Tonight, with heavy hearts, we must announce the news of the passing of our father and brother Quincy Jones,” his loved ones said in a statement.
Illustrious trumpeter and film composer
“While this is a tremendous loss for our family, we celebrate the beautiful life he lived and know that there will never be another like him (…) Through his music and his “limitless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity,” the statement said.
Quincy Jones had also contributed to numerous award-winning film and television scores and oversaw the recording of the charity track We Are The Worldwritten by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie in 1985.
An illustrious trumpeter, the artist was named by Time magazine as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century.
Born March 14, 1933 in the slums of Chicago, he rose to prominence in the 1950s as an arranger for stars such as Duke Ellington, Dinah Washington, Count Basie and legend Ray Charles.
“Quincy did everything”
He played second trumpet on Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” and teamed with Dizzy Gillespie for several years before moving to Paris in 1957, where he studied with the famous composer Nadia Boulanger.
“Quincy did it all. He was able to take his genius and translate it into any type of sound,” jazz pianist Herbie Hancock told PBS in 2001.
“He’s not afraid of anything. If you want Quincy to do something, you tell him he can’t do it. And of course he will.”
Married three times, Quincy Jones had seven children with five partners. He is the father of the jazz singer Jolie Jones Levine (born from his marriage to Jeri Caldwell), of Martina Jones and the composer and producer Quincy Jones III (born from his marriage to the photographer Ulla Jones), of Rachel Jones, ( born from an affair with the dancer Carol Reynolds), the actress Rashida Jones, the stylist Kidada Jones (whom he had with the actress Peggy Lipton), and the model Keny Kinski-Jones born from his affair with actress Nastassja Kinski.
