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Quincy Jones, one of the most powerful forces in American popular music for more than half a century, died on Sunday night in his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles. He was 91.
His death was confirmed in a statement by publicist, Arnold Robinson, who did not specify the cause.
Born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Quincy began his career in the 1950s as a jazz trumpeter and arranger, writing and collaborating with the big band artists, including Count Basie and Frank Sinatra. He later came into prominence as a record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger and film and television producer. In the 1980s. Quincy produced three of Michael Jackson’s top selling albums, including Thriller in 1982—the highest selling album of all time. In 1985, Jones produced and conducted the charity song We Are the World, which raised funds for victims of famine in Ethiopia.
Over the course of his seven-decade career, Quincy received many accolades including 28 Grammy Awards,a Primetime Emmy Award and a Tony Award as well as nominations for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.
Film credits include composing scores for In the Heat of the Night (1967), In Cold Blood (1967), The Italian Job (1969), The Wiz (1978), and The Color Purple (1985). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the miniseries Roots (1977).
Television credits include working as executive director on Bel-Air (2022) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1992) and Tupac Shakur: Thug Angel (2002).
Quincy was the also the recipient of numerous honorary awards. including the Grammy Legend Award in 1992, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, the National Medal of the Arts in 2011, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2014, and the Academy Honorary Award in 2024. He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time.
He leaves behind 7 children—6 daughters and 1 son.
