The music industry and fans across the world are mourning the loss of Quincy Jones, whose generations-spanning career netted him a whopping 28 Grammy awards with legendary artists including Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Lionel Richie and more. It’s hard to overstate the impact and legacy Jones leaves behind. Come with us on a walk down memory lane, as we look back at Jones’ masterful career.
Quincy Delight Jones was born in Chicago on March 14, 1933. Musical from a very young age, Jones started out playing the trumpet, as PEOPLE points out, eventually making his way to study at what is now the iconic Berklee College of Music.
Jones cut his teeth performing with some of the greats, playing with the Bumps Blackwell Band as early as 14, and was even noticed by Ray Charles quite early in his career. In an Instagram post dedicated to that time, Jones wrote, “If you would’ve told this 14 year old Quincy (3rd from the right - in the Bumps Blackwell Band!) that he’d be nominated for his 80th Grammy at age 85, he would’ve told ya to go get your head checked!”
One of Jones’ most iconic collaborators throughout his career was the one and only Frank Sinatra. He worked on some of Sintra’s signature songs and albums, including his classic cover of “Fly Me To the Moon.” When speaking of Sinatra, Jones wrote in his 2001 memoir, “Frank was my style. He was hip, straight up, and straight ahead, and above all, a monster musician.”
Quincy Jones’ vast career also includes scoring and producing some of the biggest films and TV shows of all time, including, “In Cold Blood,” “The Color Purple,” “Roots,” the theme of “Sanford and Son,” and music producing “The Wiz” film. Jones even produced an “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” audiobook and companion album for the iconic film.
You can’t talk about Michael Jackson’s legendary contributions to pop music without talking about Jones. Their work together between the two birthed Jackson’s three iconic albums, “Off the Wall,” “Thriller” and “Bad,” making their divine collaborations perhaps the most influential and important popular music collaborations of all time.
And then there’s “We Are the World,” the massive charity single that brought together the biggest names in music at the time. Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Jones himself, the song earned four Grammy Awards, broke records and remains of the biggest moments in pop music.
Jones was married three times. He was first married to his high school sweetheart Jeri Caldwell from the late 1950s to early 60s. Jones later married model Ulla Andersson from 1967 to 1974, and then married actress and model Peggy Lipton from 1974 to 1990. He was also partnered with Natassja Kinski in the 90s. He was often open about his complicated love life, telling GQ in 2018, “I got 22 girlfriends. I was married three times, man. Was told not to marry actresses or singers. I ended up with two actresses, Peggy Lipton and Nastassja Kinski, and a superstar model. I didn’t listen to all the advice.”
We also have Jones to thank for one of the most iconic sitcoms of all time: “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Jones was the executive producer of the Will Smith vehicle.
Like many great icons, Jones got to host “Saturday Night Live,” joining the beloved sketch show back in 1990.
In a truly historic moment, Jones oversaw Bill Clinton’s inaugural celebration concert in 1993, which included performances from greats like Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and more.
Jones’ historic and unparalleled contributions to music were recognized by the legendary Kennedy Center Honors back in 2001 in a class consisting of Van Cliburn, Julie Andrews, Jack Nicholson and Luciano Pavarotti.
Jones is survived by his daughters Rashida Jones, Jolie Jones Levine, Rachel Jones, Martina Jones, Kidada Jones and Kenya Kinski-Jones; his son Quincy Jones III, brother Richard Jones and sisters Theresa Frank and Margie Jay. Jones constantly spoke of his family and their importance to him, recently writing in the caption of a family photo shoot on his Instagram, “If you know anything about me, then you already know my family is IT for me, so these pics will forever hold a special place in my [heart emoji].”
In 2010, Jones received the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor given to artists and arts patrons by the United States government, from President Barack Obama.
In 2013, Jones was finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was inducted by Oprah Winfrey, who said of him, “He is always soaring ahead and doesn’t like to look backwards.”
Outside of his truly unmatched career, Jones was also dedicated to social activism and humanitarian work throughout his life, including his Quincy Jones Listen Up! Foundation, founding the Institute for Black American Music and Chicago’s Black Arts Festival and being outspoken in the fight to end HIV and AIDS.
