Legendary musician Quincy Jones has died at the age of 91 at his Bel Air home in Los Angeles.
A musical visionary, Quincy Jones exerted a profound influence on the worlds of jazz, pop and film, leaving an indelible imprint in every field in which he worked. His career was marked by success in almost every project in which he was involved.
Surrounded by his family, the legendary producer, musician and composer leaves an exceptional legacy, including collaborations with icons such as Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, as well as groundbreaking work for film and television.
“Tonight, it is with full but broken hearts that we must share the news of the passing of our father and brother Quincy Jones,” his family said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press. “While this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life he lived and know there will never be another like him. ”
After a difficult childhood in Chicago, Mr. Jones rose to the top of the entertainment industry. The first black executive to succeed in Hollywood, he led a career spanning over sixty years, influencing several generations, from the jazz and big band eras with legends such as Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, to the production of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”, which remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. Lionel Richie, co-writer and singer of the famous 1985 charity song “We Are the World”, affectionately referred to Jones as a “master orchestrator”.
His collaboration with Michael Jackson on the albums “Off the Wall”, “Thriller” and “Bad” contributed to Jackson’s metamorphosis into the “King of Pop”, blending diverse sounds and influences to create a universal appeal.
During his rich and glorious career, Jones received numerous awards, including 28 Grammy Awards, the French Légion d’honneur and an honorary Oscar. He has been honored not only for his music, but also for his philanthropic work, notably through the Quincy Jones Listen Up! Foundation, which aims to connect young people to culture, music and technology. “The best and only useful aspect of fame and celebrity is having a platform to help others,” Jones had said.
Jones’ personal life has been as varied as his career. After a childhood marked by violence and hardship, he found peace in music at an early age. He recounts how the discovery of a piano at the age of 11 was a turning point in his life: “That’s when I started to find peace. I was 11 years old. I knew this was it for me. Forever.”
From accompanying the great jazz singer Billie Holiday in his youth to producing the film “The Color Purple”, which received 11 Oscar nominations, Jones has broken barriers far beyond the world of music. He once summed up his approach to business and life thus: “Take talented people on their own terms and treat them fairly and with respect, no matter who they are or where they come from,” reports the Associated Press.
At the end of his life, Jones continued to attract attention for both his accomplishments and his personal confidences. He survived brain aneurysms and endured complex relationships, describing himself as a “dog” with lovers all over the world. Despite three marriages and seven children, Jones’ legacy extends far beyond his family, having influenced culture, music and society around the world. Quincy Jones also helped open up new markets for other musicians, notably in Asia, where he enjoys great popularity.
Jones leaves behind seven children, including his daughters Rashida, Kidada and Kenya Kinski-Jones, and a family and industry that mourn his passing while celebrating his unparalleled contributions to music and culture.
This article is based on an original Associated Press article.
This story was originally written in French. It was translated using translation software and edited by our editor, Emmanuel Paul. Quotes and citations in this article may differ slightly from the original French version.
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