Quincy Jones, known as one of the most influential music producers, composers, and arrangers in American music history passed away on November 3. He was 91. According to The AP, his publicist, Arnold Robinson said, Quincy Jones passed away peacefully on Sunday night at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, surrounded by his loved ones.
“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.”
Quincy Jones’ cause of death has been confirmed as pancreatic cancer, TMZ reports. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s death certificate obtained by TMZ, the iconic music producer passed away from pancreatic cancer. The certificate notes that there were no additional contributing factors.
Quincy Jones, born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois, faced numerous challenges in his early years, including poverty and family struggles. He was raised during the Great Depression. His passion for music began in his youth, and he pursued the trumpet as his instrument of choice. By his teenage years, he had shown enough promise to earn a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music in Boston. However, his ambitions led him to drop out and tour with jazz legend Lionel Hampton, launching his career as a professional musician and arranger.
In the 1950s, Jones moved to Paris, where he studied with Nadia Boulanger and immersed himself in European jazz. Upon returning to the United States, Jones quickly established himself as a sought-after arranger and conductor, working with iconic jazz musicians such as Ray Charles, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. By the 1960s, he became the first Black vice president of Mercury Records, making significant strides in breaking racial barriers within the music industry.
Jones is perhaps best known for his collaborations with Michael Jackson, producing the legendary albums Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987). His work on Thriller, in particular, solidified his status in pop music history, as the album remains the best-selling record of all time. Beyond Jackson, Jones has worked with countless artists, including Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and Barbra Streisand.
Jones’s influence extends beyond music production. He composed scores for numerous films, including The Pawnbroker (1964) and In the Heat of the Night (1967), and won numerous awards for his work, including 28 Grammy Awards and an Emmy. In 1991, he founded Vibe magazine, and in the 1990s, he became an advocate for music education through the Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium. Jones has also been active in humanitarian efforts, supporting projects related to racial equality, global health, and education.
He was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His talent, vision, and dedication to breaking barriers has left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of musicians and producers across the world.
In addition to his daughter Rashida, Quincy Jones is survived by his daughters Jolie Jones Levine, Rachel Jones, Martina Jones, Kidada Jones, and Kenya Kinski-Jones; his son, Quincy Jones III; his brother, Richard Jones; and his sisters, Theresa Frank and Margie Jay.
Rest In Peace.
