Music legend Quincy Jones, who collaborated with icons like Michael Jackson and Ray Charles, dies at 91

BEL AIR, CALIFORNIA: Legendary music producer and composer Quincy Jones — the sheer genius behind the sounds of icons, including Ray Charles and Michael Jackson — has died at the age of 91. Known for his unique talents, Jones lived an extraordinary life that touched nearly every corner of the music industry.

His family shared in an emotional statement, “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."

"He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity," they added.

Quincy Jones's humble beginnings

Born in Chicago, Quincy Jones was raised by a carpenter dad and a mother who struggled with mental illness. It was in these early years that his love for music began. He picked up the piano and, after the family moved to Seattle, he found himself learning from the great horn player Clark Terry.

It was there he also met a young Ray Charles, and the two started a friendship that would last a lifetime.

By his teens, Quincy was already a standout in Seattle’s jazz scene, catching the attention of big band leader Lionel Hampton. Hampton invited him on tour when he was just 15, but that idea was quickly shut down by Hampton’s wife Gladys.

“I got on the band bus right away and Gladys got on and said, ‘Hamp, what’s that child doing on the bus?’” Quincy later recalled. “And I was so upset. And she said, ‘Get him off here. Make him go back to school. We’ll call him later when he gets his schooling.’”

So Quincy went back to school, eventually landing a scholarship at what is now Berklee College of Music. By the early 1950s, his career was off to the races as he arranged and recorded with legends like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and his lifelong friend, Ray Charles.

Breaking barriers in the industry

Quincy Jones’ career reached new heights in the 1960s when he joined Mercury Records. In 1964, he made history by becoming the first Black executive at a major, White-owned record label when he was promoted to vice president.

He was instrumental in the success of artists like Leslie Gore, producing her hit 'It’s My Party' which shot to Number 1.

Quincy also continued adding feathers to his own cap, picking up his first Grammy for arranging Count Basie’s 'I Can’t Stop Loving You'.

In the same era, he expanded into film scores — composing for acclaimed movies like 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'In Cold Blood'.

By the 1980s, he had one of his biggest projects yet on his hands — producing Michael Jackson’s 'Thriller', which went on to become the best-selling album of all time.

Quincy had a knack for bringing the biggest names together. In 1985, he gathered an A-list roster that included Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, and Tina Turner for the hit charity single 'We Are the World'. That same year, he also found success in Hollywood by producing 'The Color Purple', directed by Steven Spielberg. 

Quincy had tried his hand at television, too, producing 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', where he gave Will Smith his big break. He even ventured into publishing in the 1990s, founding Vibe magazine.

Quincy Jones' family life and personal struggles

Quincy Jones’ personal life was as much of a roller coaster as his career. He was married three times and had seven children.

His first marriage, to Jeri Caldwell, brought him his daughter Jolie. In 1967, he married Swedish model Ulla Andersson, and they had two children, Martina and Quincy Jones III, before they divorced in 1974. That same year, Quincy tied the knot with actress Peggy Lipton, and together they had two daughters, Rashida and Kidada Jones.

He also had a daughter Rachel with dancer Carol Reynolds, and another daughter Kenya Kinski-Jones with actress Nastassja Kinski. Quincy made time for his family despite his busy career, even slowing down after a serious health scare in 1974 when he suffered a brain aneurysm. The harrowing experience pushed him to spend more time with his loved ones.

Quincy’s contributions to music didn’t stop as he got older. In 2014, he produced 'Keep on Keepin’ On' — a documentary about his mentor Clark Terry.

Looking back on his career, Quincy told Rolling Stone, “I never thought about it until I hit 80, but I have been blessed to work with every major music star in the history of America — including Louie Armstrong.”

“You can’t plan that,” he said. “You can’t say, ‘Mr Sinatra, I want to work with you.’ No. You have to wait until he calls you," CNN reported.