Music industry legend Quincy Jones died at home in Los Angeles on Nov. 3, at the age of 91. The widely acclaimed songwriter, producer and composer was born in Chicago in 1933, and over the span of his 70-year career he had immense influence on pop, soul, R&B, funk and jazz music.
Jones worked with greats including Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald and Lionel Richie, often at the beginning of their careers.
He produced a number of songs for Jackson, including “Thriller,” “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Rock With You.” In 1985, he produced the mega collab “We Are the World,” bringing together the 1980s’ biggest stars. Other notable productions include “I’ll Be Good to You” by the Brothers Johnson, “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore and “Fly Me to the Moon” by Sinatra.
Jones also had a storied career in film and television, scoring The Wiz, The Colour Purple, In the Heat of the Night, The Italian Job and many other well-known movies and shows.
The loss of Jones resonates across genres, languages and musical styles. Following the news of his death, there has been an outpouring of praise for the legend and remembrance of his legacy, from a range of musicians and other entertainment industry figures.
The Weeknd called Jones “the Reason” in a post on X and elaborated in another post, saying, “My fans know how important Quincy was to the fabric of my music. I was given the opportunity to write a foreword to his book and tried to capture what he meant to me as a human. Let’s celebrate his life today.”
Jones was one of the producers on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the television show that kickstarted Will Smith’s career. He also had a hand in casting Smith in the lead role, and in a post on Instagram, Smith called Jones “the true definition of a mentor, a father and a friend.”
Funk master Nile Rodgers, who regarded Jones as a mentor, shared a video tribute to the late producer.
Rapper and actor LL Cool J shared his condolences on Instagram, calling Jones “a father and example at a time when I truly needed a father and example.”
Powerhouse vocalist Jennifer Hudson, a fellow Chicago native, shared her love for Jones in a post on X. Last year, the two of them, alongside Chance the Rapper, reopened the Ramova Theatre on Chicago’s south side, after 40 years of it being shuttered.
Another rapper-turned-actor, Ice T, shared a photo in studio with Jones, accompanied by a heartfelt message: “Point blank, Quincy was the MAN. I won my 1st Grammy with Quincy and I live with his wisdom daily.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda, known for his musicals In the Heights and Hamilton and musical films Moana and Encanto, called Jones a “genius” in a post on Instagram: “Rest easy, maestro. And thank you for the music.”
Pop singer Charlie Puth shared a video of him and Jones at the piano, jamming out. In the caption, he said: “There is a certain warmth and richness in your chord changes, melodies and arrangements that will continue to live on long after we are gone.”
Lionel Richie, who worked with Jones to bring “We Are the World” to life in 1985, kept things short and sweet: “Wow, Q – what a great ride!! ❤️🙏🏽 – with love always.”
