Quincy Jones, Music Legend, Dead at 91

Yesterday, Quincy Jones—one of the brightest and most iconic minds in American music—died at his home in Bel-Air. He was 91. Arnold Robinson, Jones’ publicist, informed the Associated Press that the producer, composer and overall musical genius died on the evening of November 3 in the presence of his family.   

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him,” his family said in a statement.

Attempting to sum up Jones’ immense music career and his indelible impact on American culture in a few lines is an impossible task. Before the age of 30, the Chicago native became the first Black vice president of Mercury Records. That was just one of many firsts for Jones, who went on to become the first Black nominee for the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1968 for Banning’s “The Eyes of Love” and the Academy Awards’ first Black musical director and conductor in 1971. 

Jones was a chameleon when it came to working in different music genres. He produced artists ranging from Lena Horne to Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra to Donna Summer, Aretha Franklin to Little Richard. His mastery of jazz, pop and rock n’ roll remains unparalleled. Jones had the third most Grammy wins ever, with 28 awards to his name, as well as receiving a Grammy Legend Award. Jones also turned to the silver screen, composing and arranging soundtracks for numerous films—including In Cold Blood (1967), The Italian Job (1969) and The Wiz (1977)—as well as producing movies himself, most notably his 1985 debut The Color Purple.

Words fall short when it comes to Jones’ legacy, but perhaps these two will suffice for now: Thank you.