A life well lived!
Quincy Delight Jones Jr., the legendary musical composer, producer, and filmmaker, has joined the ancestors at 91 years old, AP News reports. Born in Chicago in 1933 to humble beginnings, his early childhood was marked by his mom’s mental health struggles, a young Quincy coping by joining gangs and spending his time fighting and stealing on Chicago’s Southside. He credited music with saving his life. A neighbor owned a piano that would serve as his gateway, and when his father moved the family to Washington State, the piano at the local rec center became young Quincy’s refuge.
“I went up there, paused, stared, and then tinkled on it for a moment. That’s where I began to find peace. I was 11. I knew this was it for me. Forever,” Jones wrote in his autobiography.
He eventually picked up the trumpet as well, becoming friends with another young blind musician named Ray Charles. The two would forge a lifelong friendship, and Jones continued his pursuit of music, earning a scholarship to the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston. He dropped out for a chance to go on tour with a band, and in his teen years, he worked as a composer, arranger, and producer, backing Billie Holliday before forming his own musical group. It was then that he learned the ins and outs of the music business.
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Jones would rise to global acclaim as the years went on, becoming the transforming force of an entire generation and overcoming racial obstacles to become one of the first successful Black music executives in the industry. A true multi-hyphenate creative, Jones’ work spans sectors and generations. He is best known for producing Michael Jackson’s ground-breaking “Thriller” album, producing his first movie “The Color Purple,” executive producing the hit sitcom, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” serving as the creator of Vibe magazine and Qwest Broadcasting, and executive producing the 1985 charity album “We Are The World,” to help bring awareness to the famine in Ethiopia.
“My philosophy as a businessman has always come from the same roots as my personal credo: take talented people on their own terms and treat them fairly and with respect, no matter who they are or where they come from,” wrote Jones.
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The last of an era, Jones worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Tina Turner to Michael Jackson, Duke Ellington, and Snoop Dogg. His accolades are numerous and include 28 Grammys, two Oscars, one of which is set to be awarded later this month, an Emmy for “Roots,” a Kennedy Center honor, France’s Legion d’Honneur, Italy’s Rudolph Valentino Award, and the honor of organizing President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural celebration. He lived a boundless life, full of devotion to his craft and a genuine love for the arts. More than that, he was a friend, mentor, and guide for so many bright lights in the entertainment industry throughout his seven-decade career. Jones passed away on November 3rd, with his publicist, Arnold Robinson, issuing a statement from the family.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. 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,” the Jones family said via statement.
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Already, tons of tributes have poured in for the mogul, with Will Smith calling Jones a “mentor, a father, and a friend.”
“He pointed me toward the greatest parts of myself. He defended me. He nurtured me. He encouraged me. He inspired me. He checked me when he needed to. He let me use his wings until mine were strong enough to fly,” wrote Smith in a post on social media.
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“My beloved Q. The world’s beloved Q. The one and only Quincy Jones ‘discovered’ me for ‘The Color Purple’ movie in 1985. My life changed forever for the better after meeting him. I had never experienced, nor have since, anyone [whose] heart was so filled with love. He walked around with his heart wide open, and he treated everybody as if they were the most important person he’d ever met. He was the Light. No shadows…He was the Mightiest of Souls. His life enhanced mine and every life he touched. That will be his global legacy. Biggest, fullest, most love-filled life ever,” added Oprah in her own tribute to Jones.
While there are not enough words to sum up such a grand life, we are all grateful to have shared space and time with Jones and witnessed his legendary life in real-time. To an icon, mogul, titan, and true cultural phenomenon, we say Rest in Power, Mr. Quincy Jones. Your legacy will live on through the ages.
Cover photo: 91-Year-Old Entertainment Icon Quincy Jones Has Joined the Ancestors/Photo credit: Invision/AP