Legendary music producer Quincy Jones dies at 91

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Quincy Jones, legendary musician and producer known for his collaborations with icons like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has passed away at age 91.

His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed Jones “passed away peacefully” Sunday night at his Bel Air home.

“With full but broken hearts, we share the passing of our father and brother Quincy Jones.

Though this is an incredible loss, we celebrate the remarkable life he lived,” Jones’ family stated.

Jones, celebrated for producing Michael Jackson’s groundbreaking Thriller album, left an indelible mark on the music industry. Over his 75-year career, he won 28 Grammy Awards and was hailed as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by ‘Time magazine’.

Early on, he worked closely with Frank Sinatra, notably reimagining Sinatra’s ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ into an iconic swing version.

In 1978, Jones joined forces with a young Michael Jackson on the film ‘The Wiz’, which led to producing Jackson’s first solo album, ‘Off the Wall’, a worldwide success with over 20 million copies sold.

This partnership continued with ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’, both becoming pop history milestones.

Jones further demonstrated his influence in 1985 when he brought together 46 of America’s biggest stars, including Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Cyndi Lauper, to record the global charity anthem ‘We Are the World’ to raise funds for Ethiopia’s famine crisis.

The song reached number one in the UK and US and was famously performed at Live Aid.

Beyond music, Jones contributed to over 50 film and TV soundtracks, including ‘The Italian Job’ (1969) and produced the iconic film ‘The Color Purple’, which introduced Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.

He also co-produced The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on television, adding to his diverse legacy.

With accolades spanning the Grammys, Emmys, Tonys, and Oscars, Jones was a creative force whose work transcended generations. He was married three times and had seven children, including music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones.

Reflecting on his passing, Jones’ family described him as “truly one of a kind,” whose “heart will beat for eternity.”

Among the many tributes, playwright Jeremy O’Harris noted on X that Jones’ “contributions to American culture were limitless,” honoring him as the first Black person nominated for an Oscar for Best Score and a groundbreaking figure in entertainment.

With agency reports

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