To Quincy Jones, Black American Music Will Forever Owe a Debt

The music industry is in mourning following the death of songwriting titan, Quincy Delight Jones Jr., Sunday (Oct. 3) night. He was 91.

Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, shared the news of his passing, according to AP News. At the time of his death, he was surrounded by his family in his Bel Air, Calif. home. “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family wrote 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.”

Jones’ multi-faceted musician’s legacy spans decades, as he’s worked with the likes of Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Lionel Richie. With 28 Grammy Awards under his belt, Jones was a leader in the industry.

Originally from Chicago, Jones quickly rose to fame for his innovative writing style and recognizable production. In his youth, he spent time playing his neighbor’s piano, and after moving to Washington state at 10 years old, he began to fall in love with the art form. “That’s where I began to find peace. I was 11,” Jones said. “I knew this was it for me. Forever.”

Though he is most known for his role in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album — which was awarded eight Grammys — Jones is respected as one of the first Black executives to ever thrive in Hollywood, even creating music scores for the 1985 film, “The Color Purple.”

“Thriller” sold more than 20 million copies in 1983 alone, and it remains one of the best-selling albums of all time. “If an album doesn’t do well, everyone says ‘it was the producers fault’; so if it does well, it should be your ‘fault,’ too,” Jones said in a 2016 interview with the Library of Congress. “The tracks don’t just all of a sudden appear. The producer has to have the skill, experience and ability to guide the vision to completion.”

In 1985, Jones was the driving force behind the iconic single “We Are the World.” Alongside Michael Omartian, Jones produced the track to raise money for the ongoing famine in Ethiopia. Among the participating artists were Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen and Tina Turner.

Jones often used his celebrity and impact to advocate for those who couldn’t. His work with “We Are the World,” HIV and AIDS, and the Quincy Jones Listen Up! Foundation are all examples of his continuous activism.

During the height of his career, Jones was one of Hollywood’s most talked about and highly sought after artists. He even tried his hand in other forms of entertainment, executive producing shows like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Mad TV,” and the 1996 Oscars. Jones also wrote music for “The Bill Cosby Show,” “Roots,” and, most famously, “Sanford & Son.”

In 2016, Jones elevated to EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), solidifying his already concrete legacy. As one of the most award winning people in entertainment history, he was set to receive an honorary Academy Award later this month.

“Life’s an amazing journey, isn’t it, man?” Jones said during a 2018 GQ interview. “Every day I think about it. It’s just something else. I love every step. I appreciate all of it. Every drop.…”