Legendary producer Quincy Jones dies aged 91

Quincy Jones, the legendary producer behind iconic records by the likes of Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, and many others, has died at the age of 91.

Jones’ death was announced by his publicist Arnold Robinson, who confirmed that he died at his L.A. home, surrounded by family.

“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.”

In a career spanning over half a century, Jones was one of the most influential figures not just in music but pop culture, shaping the sound and direction of some of the 20th century’s biggest and most successful acts. He was, however, perhaps best known for his work with Michael Jackson, producing Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad in the 1980s. This trio of releases would establish Jackson as the biggest star on the planet, fusing a variety of genres, from pop and soul to rock and R&B to enormous critical and commercial acclaim.

To this day, Thriller remains the biggest selling album of all time, having sold in excess of 70 million records worldwide.

Jones would also produce records for the likes of Sinatra, Franklin, Ray Charles, Donna Summer, Lionel Richie, and countless others, resulting in him winning 28 Grammy Awards during his lifetime – more than any other artist or producer. His 80 nominations would only be surpassed by Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who each amassed 88 nominations.

It wasn’t just in the world of pop music that Jones carved out a successful career. He was a prominent arranger and bandleader in the jazz scene, developing a reputation as a stellar trumpet player and pianist.

He also composed a string of scores for film and TV, including Soul Bossa Nova, which Mike Myers used as the theme tune for Austin Powers, while his production company in this field would produce hits like The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.

Jones’s ascent to stardom was in many ways an unlikely one. Born in Chicago in 1933, he was initially involved with gangs on the south side of the city. His life would change dramatically, however, when he began playing in a band at the age of 14 with a then 16-year-old Ray Charles. After performing extensively in clubs around Seattle, he went on to study music at Seattle University before moving across the country to New York, where one early show saw him wind up playing trumpet in Elvis Presley’s band for his first TV appearances.

His major breakthrough didn’t arrive until a few years later, when he started working at Mercury Records as a producer and arranger. Here, he would produce and arrange records for an array of artists, among them, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sammy Davis Jr.

In 1968, he would become the first African American to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song for The Eyes of Love from the film Banning.

Jones was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for his work on the 1967 film In Cold Blood, making him the first African American to be nominated twice in the same year. In 1985, Jones produced and conducted the charity song We Are the World, which raised funds for victims of famine in Ethiopia.

In 1971, Jones became the first African American to be the musical director and conductor of the Academy Awards, and in 1995, he became the first African American to receive the academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. 

In 1975, Jones founded Qwest Productions, for which he arranged and produced successful albums by Frank Sinatra and others, and in 1978, he produced the soundtrack for The Wiz, the musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, which starred Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

Marking Jones's debut as a film producer, 1985's Steven Spielberg-directed The Color Purple received 11 Oscar nominations that year, including one for Jones' score.

Beyond his musical achievements, Jones was a passionate advocate for social justice and education, founding initiatives to promote music in schools and empower underrepresented communities.

Jones's social activism began in the ‘60s with his support of Martin Luther King Jr. Jones was also one of the founders of the Institute for Black American Music (IBAM), whose events aim to raise enough funds for the creation of a national library of African-American art and music. Jones was also one of the founders of the Black Arts Festival in his hometown of Chicago.

For many years, Jones worked closely with Bono of U2 on a number of philanthropic causes. He was the founder of the Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that built more than 100 homes in South Africa and which aims to connect youths with technology, education, culture, and music

Jones leaves behind a profound legacy that will continue to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and countless friends and collaborators who admired his talent and spirit.

As the news broke, tributes have been paid by various artists, musicians, and executives.

Ezra Collective’s drummer Femi Koleoso wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Masterful musician and beautiful soul. Rest in peace and eternally grateful for seeing something in me and my brothers all those years ago. Playing at your birthday party with @EzraCollective was an opportunity that changed our lives for ever. Rest in peace Quincy Jones.”

Ted Gioia, the author of The History of Jazz and Delta Blues, said: “RIP Quincy Jones, who leaves us at age 91. No musician of his generation moved so effortlessly and brilliantly between styles and settings—collaborating with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson to Miles Davis. What a remarkable career!”

PRS For Music shared: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the legendary Quincy Jones. His contributions to music, spanning genres and generations, have left an indelible mark on the industry and our hearts. Quincy’s genius and boundless creativity will inspire for years to come. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans around the world.”

TIDAL also posted a tribute to the musical legend: “Rest in peace to Quincy Jones, who, as a producer, film scorer and solo artist, quite simply did it all. He has been sampled by Mobb Deep and the Pharcyde; composed the music for The Color Purple; and produced both We Are the World and Michael Jackson's Thriller, the latter being the best-selling album of all time.”

Warner Chappell Music co-chair and CEO Guy Moot and co-chair and COO Carianne Marshall also shared a joint statement on the passing of Jones, who joined the Warner Chappell roster in 2020: “We join billions of music fans around the world, as we mourn the loss of the great Quincy Jones, and celebrate his immeasurable contributions to culture. Words like titan, genius, GOAT, will be used today and he deserves it all. Quincy was a producer, artist, composer, and activist, but above all, he was a songwriter. He leaves behind an extraordinarily powerful, diverse body of work that will light the way for future generations. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.”