Barack Obama put it succinctly in stating that Jones had spent his life "building a career that took him from the streets of Chicago to the heights of Hollywood... paving the way for generations of Black executives to leave their mark on the entertainment business."
Quincy Jones passed this week, leaving behind a legacy so much bigger than just his stamp on music. While his work as a trumpet player, producer and record executive was a career all of its own, Jones used his influence in these areas for humanitarian work, like raising money for famine in Ethiopia with “We Are the World”, as well as as a TV executive bring us shows like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Mad TV, The Evolution of Black Music and more.
Barack Obama put it succinctly in stating that Jones had spent his life “building a career that took him from the streets of Chicago to the heights of Hollywood… paving the way for generations of Black executives to leave their mark on the entertainment business.”
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. began his professional journey in music in 1953, at the ripe age of 20, with jazz bandleader Lionel Hampton, Jones playing as part of the Hampton orchestra. He left the Hampton band in 1954, settled in New York and began his time working at CBS where he played second trumpet for, then 21, rising star Elvis Presley. Jones went on to perform as trumpeter and musical director for Dizzy Gillespie, spending the rest of the 50s touring with jazz outfits.
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His own big band, The Jones Brothers (formed with Eddie Jones and Reunald Jones (all three men being unrelated)) taught Quincy the difference between music and the music business. The Jones Brothers were an incredible band, but the logistics and economics of supporting a big band with multiple members in a touring party was a harsh reality.
Jones was invited to conduct Frank Sinatra and Count Basie’s album It Might as Well Be Swing in 1964. By the mid 60s, Jones was building a reputation as a film composer, with success in films like Mirage, The Slender Thread, The Italian Job and more.
The late 70s and 80s aw Quincy shift into the pop world, having produced the soundtrack for The Wiz, a musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz. Diana Ross and Michael Jackson starred in The Wiz, Jackson asking Jones for a recommendation for a producer for his album, and while Quincy offered a few names, he eventually produced the record himself.
1985 saw Quincy’s debut as a film producer, The Color Purple receiving 11 Oscar nominations. This film, and Quincy himself, is credited with introducing Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey to the world.
Throughout the 1990s, Jones established Quincy Jones Entertainment with Time Warner, and signed a deal with Warner Bros. to begin producing TV Shows. Also in 1991, famed jazz trumpet player Miles Davis finally relented to Quincy’s nagging to perform with him. Quincy Jones had been asking Davis since the 70s, and in 1991 they performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Davis would pass away just months later. You can hear this performance on 1993’s Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux.
The 2000s, Quincy Jones firmly established as a world-wide star, as a performer, producer and icon, saw Quincy appearing in 1999’s Fantasia 2000 and appearing as himself in Austin Powers in Goldmember.
Quincy Jones used his influence for good, being an activist, a mentor, a friend and a producer of both music and film. One to put his money where his mouth is, Quincy’s life was one of inspiration, of getting the project across the line, producing world-class work and being an honour to work with.
He has a huge list of honours, awards and nominations for his mountain of work, as well as leaving behind a legacy that we could all learn from.
