Quincy Jones
This week's hero!!
A while ago we watched Quincy: the documentary about Quincy Jones on Netflix. His accomplishments and humanitarianism are legendary. To do all he has done, to win countless awards and have his music and films be household names and then to still practice humility and grace is a Heroic feat!! Cheers
Jeanne
Considered to be one of the greatest minds in music and television history, Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. was born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Sarah Frances (Wells), a bank executive, and Quincy Delight Jones, Sr., a carpenter.
Jones found his love for music while he was enrolled in grade school at Seattle's Garfield High School, this is also where he had met Ray Charles whom he later worked and became friends with. In 1951, Quincy Jones had won a scholarship to the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Jones however dropped out when he got the opportunity to tour with Lionel Hampton's band as a trumpeter and conductor. Jones also worked for the European production of Harold Arlen's blues opera, Free and Easy in 1959. After Jones had worked on several projects overseas he returned to New York where he composed and arranged, and recorded for artists such as Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dinah Washington, LeVern Baker, and Big Maybell. Jones was working with these artists while holding an executive position at Mercury Records, being one of the very few African Americans at the time to have such a position.
In 1963, Quincy Jones won his first Grammy award for his Count Basie arrangement of "I Can't Stop Loving You". In 1964, by the request of director Sidney Lumet, Jones composed the music for his movie, The Pawnbroker. This would be the first of many Jones composed for film scores. By the mid-1960's Quincy Jones became the conductor and arranger for Frank Sinatra's orchestra. Jones also conducted and arranged one of Sinatra's most memorable songs, Fly Me To The Moon. Jones appeared on a lot of film credits for his music such as The Slender Thread, Walk, Don't Run, In Cold Blood, In The Heat Of The Night, A Dandy In Aspic, Mackenna's Gold, and The Italian Job. In 1972 Quincy Jones was the theme song composer for the hit-sitcom, Sanford And Son.
Quincy Jones in 1978 worked on music for the Wiz, this is where he met icon, Michael Jackson. Jackson at the time was looking for a producer, Jones recommended some producers but in the end asked Jackson if he could do it, Jackson said yes. In 1982 as a result of this partnership, Jones had formed a tapestry with Jackson which was unbreakable it was called, Thriller. The Thriller album sold more than 100 million records world-wide. Jones continued working with Jackson with his Bad album in 1987. However after Jones recommended Jackson seek other producers to update his music. Jones referred Jackson to producer, Teddy Riley. This ended a partnership between two-greats, Jackson and Jones would never collaborate again.
In 1981 Jones had an album called, The Dude. In 1985 Jones scored the film adaptation of The Color Purple. Jones also was a philanthropist, in 1985 gathering multiple stars to participate in the song We Are The World to help raise money to help the victims of the Ethopian disaster.
In 1990 Jones composed a theme song for the new sitcom which was centered around Will Smith, The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. Jones was also the executive producer of the show.
Quincy Jones will forever be remembered as someone who helped sculpt music in every form, he refined music and through the music he helped sculpt brought messages of peace, justice, love, funk, and hope.
Jones found his love for music while he was enrolled in grade school at Seattle's Garfield High School, this is also where he had met Ray Charles whom he later worked and became friends with. In 1951, Quincy Jones had won a scholarship to the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Jones however dropped out when he got the opportunity to tour with Lionel Hampton's band as a trumpeter and conductor. Jones also worked for the European production of Harold Arlen's blues opera, Free and Easy in 1959. After Jones had worked on several projects overseas he returned to New York where he composed and arranged, and recorded for artists such as Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dinah Washington, LeVern Baker, and Big Maybell. Jones was working with these artists while holding an executive position at Mercury Records, being one of the very few African Americans at the time to have such a position.
In 1963, Quincy Jones won his first Grammy award for his Count Basie arrangement of "I Can't Stop Loving You". In 1964, by the request of director Sidney Lumet, Jones composed the music for his movie, The Pawnbroker. This would be the first of many Jones composed for film scores. By the mid-1960's Quincy Jones became the conductor and arranger for Frank Sinatra's orchestra. Jones also conducted and arranged one of Sinatra's most memorable songs, Fly Me To The Moon. Jones appeared on a lot of film credits for his music such as The Slender Thread, Walk, Don't Run, In Cold Blood, In The Heat Of The Night, A Dandy In Aspic, Mackenna's Gold, and The Italian Job. In 1972 Quincy Jones was the theme song composer for the hit-sitcom, Sanford And Son.
Quincy Jones in 1978 worked on music for the Wiz, this is where he met icon, Michael Jackson. Jackson at the time was looking for a producer, Jones recommended some producers but in the end asked Jackson if he could do it, Jackson said yes. In 1982 as a result of this partnership, Jones had formed a tapestry with Jackson which was unbreakable it was called, Thriller. The Thriller album sold more than 100 million records world-wide. Jones continued working with Jackson with his Bad album in 1987. However after Jones recommended Jackson seek other producers to update his music. Jones referred Jackson to producer, Teddy Riley. This ended a partnership between two-greats, Jackson and Jones would never collaborate again.
In 1981 Jones had an album called, The Dude. In 1985 Jones scored the film adaptation of The Color Purple. Jones also was a philanthropist, in 1985 gathering multiple stars to participate in the song We Are The World to help raise money to help the victims of the Ethopian disaster.
In 1990 Jones composed a theme song for the new sitcom which was centered around Will Smith, The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. Jones was also the executive producer of the show.
Quincy Jones will forever be remembered as someone who helped sculpt music in every form, he refined music and through the music he helped sculpt brought messages of peace, justice, love, funk, and hope.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Peter Sean
Spouse (3)
| Peggy Lipton | (14 September 1974 - 10 October 1989) ( divorced) ( 2 children) |
| Ulla Andersson | (17 October 1968 - 13 September 1974) ( divorced) ( 2 children) |
| Jeri Caldwell | (1957 - 1966) ( divorced) ( 1 child) |
Trivia (30)
Suffered a brain aneurysm in the 1970s. As a result, he can no longer play the trumpet; doing so could dislodge the chip in his brain.
Recipient of twenty-six Grammys, which is currently more than any living recording artist. Sir Georg Solti holds the all-time record with thirty-one Grammys.
(1991-1997) Lived with Nastassja Kinski. One daughter, Kenya Kinski-Jones (Kenya Julia Miambi Sarah Jones) (b. February 9, 1993).
Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1996]
He appeared in, conducted, produced, and directed the music video for the song "We Are The World".
Born at 8:40pm CST.
At 17, he began his career playing trumpet and arranging for Lionel Hampton, and later Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, and Peggy Lee.
His production company, partnered with former news executive David Salzman, also produces Jenny Jones (1991) and MADtv (1995).
Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1994.
He has never learned how to drive an automobile.
He received the John F. Kennedy Center Honors in 2001.
Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988.
After his brain aneurysm, a metal plate was placed in his head, thus setting off a metal detector at an airport.
With Jeri Caldwell, is the father of jazz vocalist Jolie Jones Levine.
Born on the same date as Sir Michael Caine.
He is considered Berklee College of Music's most famous alumnus. His original application, when the school was known as Schillinger House, is housed in a display case at the school.
Jones' maternal grandmother, Mary Belle Lanier, was the illegitimate daughter of James Balance Lanier, the second cousin four times removed of President George Washington. He is also related to Lee Marvin and Senator John McCain.
Father, with Carol Reynolds, of daughter Rachel Jones.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1500 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
He was awarded the 2010 National Medal of Arts for his contributions to American music as a musician, composer, record producer, and arranger. He was an inventor of musical hybrids, he has mixed pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African, and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performances, movies, and television.
In 1963, when Lesley Gore's "It's My Party" topped the US charts, was Quincy's very first hit as a producer for Mercury Records.
He will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for his services to music. [May 2005]
Former brother-in-law of Robert Lipton.
Good friends with Ray Charles.
Larenz Tate portrayed Jones in Ray (2004).
He was once neighbors with Pablo Picasso. They had a mutual friend and met at a restaurant. Picasso paid with fish bones, which were immediately hung on the wall.
Personal Quotes (3)
Frank Sinatra took me to a whole new planet. I worked with him until he passed away in '98. He left me his ring. I never take it off. Now, when I go to Sicily, I don't need a passport. I just flash my ring.
[on Jack Nicholson] Jack had a great sense of humor. He still does. He's crazy and a beautiful guy. I always think it's nice when somebody who's paid his dues, like Jack, makes it. But he hasn't really changed much.
When I was studying with Nadia Boulanger, the legendary composer and teacher, in Paris, she used to say "Your music can never be more than you are as a human being". And B.B. King was a great human being.
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