Quincy Jones Dies at 91

Quincy Jones died Sunday, November 3, at his home in California, The New York Times reports. The legendary musician, composer, producer, and entertainment giant was 91 years old. No cause was disclosed.

Jones was one of the most nominated artists in Grammy history, earning 80 nominations and 28 awards over the course of his career. The accomplished jazz musician and arranger distinguished himself from his contemporaries with his willingness to span genres, jumping between R&B, pop, jazz, and rap in the 1980s alone. With production work for legends such as Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, Lesley Gore, and Donna Summer, his impact on contemporary music is nearly unmatched.

As he continued to branch into other realms of entertainment, Jones found more success with shows such as “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” which was co-produced by Quincy Jones Entertainment. He also launched a record label, Qwest, and founded Vibe magazine, later assembling the streaming platform Qwest TV with archival concert footage and music documentaries. In 1991, he recorded a collaborative live album with Miles Davis, Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux, which was Davis’ final album before his death. In 2001, he was honored alongside Jack Nicholson, Luiciano Pavarotti, Julie Andrews, and Van Cliburn at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Jones remained a prominent voice (and big character) in contemporary music. He starred in the music video for Travis Scott and Young Thug’s song “Out West,” and he told a story about childhood trauma on the Weeknd’s 2022 album Dawn FM. In 2021, he was in the inaugural class of artists inducted to the Black Music Walk of Fame in Atlanta.

Source : Pitchfork