Quincy Jones has died at the age of 91. After the news broke this morning, numerous artists and celebrities paid tribute to the pop and entertainment icon. Michael Caine, star of the Jones-soundtracked Italian Job, honored his “celestial twin… a titan in the musical world”; Flying Lotus said “king” Quincy Jones was “absolutely the template”; Kelly Lee Owens remembered a producer who “put soul first”; and Ice-T, Nile Rodgers, Pink Siifu, and others also wrote messages celebrating the great composer.
Ice-T posted on X, “I woke up today to the Terrible news that we lost Quincy Jones.. Genius is a discription loosely used but Rarely deserved. Point blank, Quincy was the MAN. I won my 1st Grammy with Quincy and I live with his Wisdom daily. My condolences go out to his family who I had the honor of meeting. This one Hit me. God bless you KING.”
LL Cool J wrote on Instagram, “You were a father and example at a time when I truly needed a father and example. Mentor. Role model. King. You gave me opportunities and shared wisdom. Music would not be music without you. My condolences to the entire family. I love you. Rest in the sweetest music eternally.”
Amaarae wrote, “I thought Quincy Jones was gonna live forever 💔. What an incredible loss. RIP to the greatest to ever do it! 🕊️”
Top Dawg Entertainment’s president, Terrence “Punch” Henderson, called Jones the G.O.A.T. and acknowledged his magnificent interview style, writing on social media, “I aspire to be as honest as Quincy Jones was in some of his latter interviews lol. My guys was telling truths that no one even knew to ask for.”
Victoria Monét posted, “💔💔💔💔💔 to one of my biggest inspirations! Quincy, I love you so much!!! Your legacy will live on forever and ever 😢 Heaven definitely got an upgrade with you.”
Colman Domingo, who starred in the Jones-produced remake of The Color Purple, wrote on social media: “He asked, where are you from? Philly I replied, his eyes twinkled and he talked about the Uptown Theater. I was so thrilled to meet Mr. American Music himself. I literally kneeled because he was a King. Thank you Mr. Quincy Jones for giving us all the sound.”
Playwright Jeremy O. Harris wrote: “What couldn’t he do? Quincy Jones, literally born when the limits on how big a black boy could dream were unfathomably high, taught us that the limit does not exist. His contributions to American culture were limitless. First black person nominated for an Oscar for best score. First black person nominated later twice in the same year. The producer of inarguably the biggest albums of the 20th century. An EGOT. Father to some of pretty incredibly talented children as well and godfather to musicians around the world. RIP QUINCY.”
And the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which inducted Jones in 2013, said he “excelled at every role he took on. Producer, arranger, trumpeter, executive, and more, Jones won 28 Grammy Awards and guided historic sessions with such giants as Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis, and Michael Jackson in addition to his groundbreaking work in film and television. Jones established the standard for innovation; accomplished and successful in every facet of the music industry, he set the model for the modern music mogul.”
Source : Pitchfork
