Quincy Jones, Music Legend and Icon, Dies at 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer known for his groundbreaking collaborations with iconic artists like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has died at the age of 91.

According to a statement from his publicist, Arnold Robinson, Jones “passed away peacefully” on Sunday night at his home in Bel Air, California.

In a heartfelt statement, his family expressed, “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. While this is an immense loss for our family, we choose to celebrate the extraordinary life he led and acknowledge that there will never be another like him.”

Jones enjoyed a remarkable career that spanned over 75 years, during which he garnered 28 Grammy Awards and was recognized by Time magazine as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century.

Early in his career, Jones worked closely with Frank Sinatra, notably reimagining the crooner’s classic “Fly Me To The Moon,” transforming it from a waltz into a swinging jazz standard.

His collaboration with a young Michael Jackson began with the film The Wiz, where he was struck by Jackson’s talent. This partnership led to Jones producing Jackson’s Off the Wall, which sold an astounding 20 million copies. He continued to work with the pop icon on subsequent albums, Thriller and Bad, both of which achieved monumental success.

In 1985, Jones organized a significant effort to raise funds for those suffering from famine in Ethiopia by gathering 46 of America’s biggest music stars, including Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Cyndi Lauper, to record “We Are the World.” Co-written by Jones, the song became the US equivalent of Band Aid’s “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” and reached number one on both the UK and US charts. It was also performed at the landmark Live Aid concert.

Jones composed soundtracks for over 50 films and television programs, including the 1969 British film The Italian Job. He produced the film The Color Purple, which introduced audiences to then-unknown talents Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg. On television, he was one of the producers behind the hit series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

Music was where Jones truly excelled; in addition to his numerous Grammy Awards, including a Legend Award in 1992, he was also honored by the Emmys, Tonys, and Oscars.

Jones was married three times and had seven children, including music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, known for her role in the US version of The Office.

His family remarked that Jones was “truly one of a kind” and stated, “Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”