Quincy Jones’s publicist, Arnold Robinson, revealed that the legendary music producer passed away last night surrounded by his family at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles.
The family released a statement saying, “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.”
Jones ascended to the pinnacle of show business, becoming one of the first Black executives to flourish in Hollywood and amass an extraordinary musical catalogue. He toured with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, arranged records for Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, and composed the soundtracks for Roots and In the Heat of the Night.
Jones organised then-President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural celebration and oversaw the all-star recording of “We Are the World” in 1985 for famine relief in Africa.
The 28-time Grammy Award winner will likely be best remembered for his productions with Michael Jackson, where his versatility and imagination helped to unleash the singer’s talents, transforming him from a child star into the “King of Pop”.
Jones’s final Instagram post yesterday wished his daughter Martina “Tina” a happy birthday and featured a photograph of the two smiling together. It read, “Happy Birthday to my Tina Beena! So proud to be yo papa! Big hug, I love you eternally.”
Jones is survived by his daughters Rashida Jones, Jolie Jones Levine, Rachel Jones, Martina Jones, Kidada Jones, and Kenya Kinski-Jones; his son Quincy Jones III; his brother Richard Jones; and his sisters Theresa Frank and Margie Jay.
