Quincy Jones, producer of Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, dies aged 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated US musician and producer who labored with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and lots of others, has died on the age of 91.

Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, stated he “handed away peacefully” on Sunday evening at his residence in Bel Air.

“Tonight, with full however damaged hearts, we should share the information of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And though that is an unbelievable loss for our household, we have fun the nice life that he lived and know there’ll by no means be one other like him,” the household stated in an announcement.

Jones was greatest often known as the producer of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album.

Over a profession spanning greater than 75 years, he gained 28 Grammy Awards and was named as one of the crucial influential jazz musicians of the twentieth century by Time journal.

He labored intently with Sinatra and reworked the crooner’s basic Fly Me To The Moon, taking it from a waltz to a swing.

For the movie The Wiz, Jones discovered himself working alongside a 19-year-old Michael Jackson. He went on to provide Jackson’s album Off the Wall and the pop star’s follow-ups Thriller – which bought 34 million copies int he US alone – and Dangerous.

In 1985, Jones gathered 46 of America’s hottest singers of the time, together with Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper, to document We Are the World.

Jones co-wrote the tune to lift cash for these affected by a devastating famine in Ethiopia. The document was the US equal to Band Help’s Do They Know It is Christmas.

The hit reached primary within the UK and the US and was carried out at Reside Help.

Jones additionally composed the soundtrack to greater than 50 movies and TV programmes together with the 1969 British movie, The Italian Job.

Michael Caine, who starred in The Italian Job, paid tribute to Jones on X, calling him “a titan within the musical world”.

“He was a beautiful and distinctive human being, fortunate to have identified him.”

Sir Elton John additionally praised Jones and stated “no person had a profession as unbelievable” as him, writing: “He performed with the most effective and he produced the most effective. What a man. Beloved him.”

TV producer Shonda Rhimes known as him “a legend, a visionary, a pioneer”.

Whereas Dr Dre posted on Insta: “Quincy is the explanation I made a decision to turn into a document producer,” including that point he had spent “hanging out with him was priceless”.

On the massive display, Jones produced the movie The Coloration Purple, which launched the general public to 2 then unknown performers – Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg.

Posting a tribute on Instagram, Goldberg stated he was “one among a form”.

On the small display, he was one of many producers behind the hit TV present The Recent Prince of Bel Air.

Nevertheless it was music the place Jones excelled – in addition to successful a number of Grammys, together with a legend award in 1992, he was additionally recognised by the Emmys, Tonys and Oscars.

Jones was married thrice and had seven kids, together with music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, identified for the US model of The Workplace.

Jones’ household stated the music producer was “really one among a form” and “by way of his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ coronary heart will beat for eternity”.

One of many first to pay tribute was playwright Jeremy O’Harris, who wrote on X that Jones’ “contributions to American tradition have been limitless”, noting he was the primary black particular person nominated for an Oscar for greatest rating amongst his different achievements.

Rapper LL Cool J, who briefly dated Jones’ daughter Kidada Jones, stated on Instagram that Jones was “a father and instance at a time once I really wanted a father”.

He added: “Mentor. Function mannequin. King. You gave me alternatives and shared knowledge. Music wouldn’t be music with out you.”

Singer Victoria Monét stated that Jones’ “legacy will stay on perpetually and ever” and musician Nile Rodgers posted on X: “Relaxation in Energy”.

Ice T additionally paid tribute and wrote: “Genius is an outline loosely used however Not often deserved. Level clean, Quincy was the MAN. I gained my 1st Grammy with Quincy and I stay along with his Knowledge each day.”

Singer Darius Rucker stated we had “misplaced one of many all time greats”, whereas British DJ Tony Blackburn wrote on X that Jones was a “musical genius”.

Montreux Jazz Pageant CEO Mathieu Jaton, who labored alongside Quincy for a few years, stated the spirit of Jones “will perpetually resonate” with the competition’s historical past.

He added that Jones, as a co-producer within the Nineteen Nineties, “helped elevate the competition to new heights”.