Quincy Jones, legendary producer, dies at 91

• Quincy Jones, 91, died at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday evening.
• Jones is best known as the producer of Michael Jackson’s early albums and has received 28 Grammy Awards.
• The cause of his death has not been confirmed.

Quincy Jones died at age 91 at his home in Bel Air, his publicist Arnold Robinson confirmed in a statement to Business Insider.

Jones, a 28-time Grammy Award winner, was best known as a producer Michael Jackson’s best selling album“Thriller”. During his seven-decade career, he collaborated with Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Betty Carter, among others.

Robinson said he was surrounded by his children, siblings and close relatives when he died.

His family said in a statement through Robinson: “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of the passing of our father and brother Quincy Jones. And while this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great lives we have lived.” he lived and knew that there would never be anyone 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 was 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 forever.”

His family requested privacy during their mourning and asked that donations be made to the Jazz Foundation of America in lieu of flowers.

Quincy Jones is best known for his contributions to the careers of other artists.

His musical journey began in 1943 when he was 10 years old when his family moved to Bremerton, Washington and he began experimenting with various instruments.

Jones settled on the trumpet and began performing with Ray Charleswho was still an unknown artist, performed in Seattle’s vibrant jazz nightclubs and local weddings.

At age 18, Jones attended Seattle University and then transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston, but eventually left to tour with jazz pianist Lionel Hampton and begin his professional career.

Jones first became popular with albums such as Walking in Space and Gula Matari after he signed his first record deal with ABC-Paramount in 1956.

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But Jones is better known for his contributions to the careers of other artists. He was a prolific arranger and producer, creating records for many artists, including Charles and Sinatra. Michael JacksonElla Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughn, Dinah Washington and Dizzy Gillespie.

These included hits such as Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party” and the star-studded 1985 charity single “We Are the World.”

After creating the soundtrack for the 1978 musical The Wiz, starring Jackson, Jones worked with him on his next three albums: Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. They sold 54 million copies in the US alone, helped catapult Jackson to superstardom and featured his most famous songs.

Jones was the first black executive of a major American record label.

Jones has held executive positions in several companies, starting with Mercury Records.

Jones began working as music director for Barclay Disques, a French brand of Mercury Records, in 1957 and rose through the ranks until he became vice president of the company in 1964. Jones was the first black artist to hold an executive position at a major American record label. .

In 1975, Jones founded Qwest Productions to collaborate and produce songs for artists including Sinatra, and in 1980, Jones launched his label, Qwest Records.

Jones also helped launch the careers of actors such as Will Smith.

Midway through his career, Jones began writing music for Hollywood films, making his debut in the 1964 film The Pawnbroker. The film was a success, prompting him to leave Mercury Records and move to Los Angeles. He also composed scores for films, including 1966’s Walk Don’t Run and 1969’s The Italian Job.

Jones became a film producer in 1985, starting with “Color Purple“, which received 11 Oscar nominations.

Together with his film and television companies – Quincy Jones Entertainment and Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment – he produced the television series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airand Mad TV, which launched the careers of Will Smith, Keegan Michael Key and Jordan Peele.

Jones has been nominated for 52 Grammy Awards, won 28 and been nominated for seven Oscars.

Jones was married three times and had seven children.

Jones married and divorced three times: first to childhood sweetheart Geri Caldwell from 1957–1966, then to Swedish model Ulla Andersson from 1967–1974, and finally to actress Peggy Lipton from 1974–90.

Jones is survived by seven children – Jolie Jones Levine, 70; Rachel Jones, 60; Martina Jones, 58; Quincy Delight Jones III, 55; Kidada Ann Jones, 50; Rashida Jones48; and Kenya Kinski-Jones, 31, some of whom have children and grandchildren.