The business has misplaced a real legend and icon whose profession spanned music and movie. Quincy Jones, some of the completed and well-known producers, songwriters, and composers, has sadly handed away at 91. Whereas he is finest recognized for producing three of Michael Jackson’s greatest and most signature albums, which embody Off The Wall, Thriller, and Dangerous, he additionally dabbled in movie and tv as a producer, lending his title to the film musical adaptation of The Wiz, Steven Spielberg’s The Colour Purple and tv’s The Contemporary Prince of Bel-Air, amongst others.
Per The Related Press, Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, revealed that he handed away peacefully at house on Sunday night time surrounded by his family members. The household launched a press release concerning his passing that reads:
“Tonight, with full however damaged hearts, we should share the information of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And though that is an unimaginable loss for our household, we rejoice the good life that he lived and know there’ll by no means be one other like him.”
A explanation for demise was not disclosed, however Robinson did make a request to have any donations, ought to individuals want to make them, be made to The Jazz Basis of America, given Jones’ love of the music business. An artwork type that gave Jones objective and that means.
“Quincy’s household is grateful for the outpouring of condolences…and respectfully request privateness at the moment. In lieu of flowers…the household asks that donations be made to The Jazz Basis of America – jazzfoundation.org.”
Quincy Jones Was An Achieved Determine in Music & Movie
Born on the South Aspect of Chicago on March 14, 1933, Jones’ profession knew no bounds. The early a part of his musical journey started as a jazz arranger and conductor, working with different legends resembling Frank Sinatra and Rely Basie. As an African American, he additionally broke down limitations, turning into the primary African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Finest Unique Track for the tune “The Eyes of Love”, featured within the 1967 movie Banning. He was nominated in the identical 12 months for Finest Unique Rating for his work on the critically acclaimed crime movie, In Chilly Blood. Jones additionally completed one other first for African Individuals on the Academy Awards in 1971, when he grew to become the primary African American to be the musical director and conductor for the massive occasion. All informed, he was the second most Oscar-nominated African American with seven nominations, tying with sound designer Wille D. Burton.
In a profession plagued by accomplishments, most know Jones for producing three of Michael Jackson’s greatest albums: Off The Wall, Thriller, and Dangerous. The duo met when Jones produced the soundtrack for the film adaptation of The Wiz in 1978, by which Jackson co-starred because the Scarecrow alongside Diana Ross’s Dorothy. Their critically huge vendor collectively could be Jackson’s Thriller album in 1982. The signature Jackson launch stays the best-selling album of all time with 70 million copies bought worldwide, successful a record-breaking eight Grammy Awards in 1984.
By the tip of Jones’ profession, he would go on to win a complete of 28 Grammy Awards out of a staggering 80 nominations, making him essentially the most Grammy-nominated producer ever. Jones did extra groundbreaking work in 1985 with Jackson and a slew of different music artists when he produced and recorded “We Are the World”, a track made to lift cash for the 1983-1985 famine in Ethiopia. The only bought over 20 million copies, making it one of many greatest promoting singles of all time, and it raised over $80 million for his or her trigger.
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Alongside all of Jones’ work inside the music business, he ceaselessly lent his skills to movies. He wrote the music and scores for a lot of initiatives, together with Within the Warmth of the Evening and The Colour Purple. The 1985 Spielberg movie grew to become Jones’ first producing movie credit score, and it might go on to grow to be very profitable, grossing $98.4 million on the field workplace on a $15 million price range. The film was additionally nominated for eleven Academy Awards, together with Finest Image. The composer was additionally concerned within the Broadway musical adaptation of The Colour Purple, occurring to win a Tony Award for Finest Revival of a Musical.
In TV, Jones produced the enduring sitcom, The Contemporary Prince of Bel-Air, which ran for six seasons, and Mad TV. He composed music for the miniseries Roots, Ironside, The Invoice Cosby Present and Sanford & Son. Jones would go on to win an Emmy Award for Excellent Musical Composition for a Sequence for his work on Roots, which stays some of the profitable and iconic miniseries of all time. Jones is survived by his daughter, actress Rashida Jones, in addition to daughters Jolie Jones Levine, Rachel Jones, Martina Jones, Kiada Jones, Kenya Kinski-Jones, son Quincy Jones III, sisters Theresa Frank and Margie Jay, and his brother, Richard Jones. Relaxation in peace to a real legend.