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Quincy Jones, the legendary record producer and 28-time Grammy winner, has died at the age of 91. His Publiss confirmed that he died on November 3 at his home in the Bel Air area of Los Angeles surrounded by his family.
Throughout his decades-long career, Jones earned the title of one of the most famous musicians and producers in history, collaborating with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles.
In fact, it was his first meeting with Jackson who would later make Jones one of the most successful music producers in the world. Not only did Jones produce Jackson’s 1982 album Thrillerthe best-selling album of all time, but the composer’s credits also include the score for 1967. In Cold Blood and 1985 Purple color. Jones also led a distinguished career in television, serving as an executive producer for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwhich launched actor Will Smith to stardom.
From record sales and royalties to multimedia and real estate companies, Jones’ seven children – including actor daughter Rashida Jones – are set to inherit his staggering fortune after his death.
After spending much of his early career touring in jazz bands, he got a big break from Mercury Records president Irving Green, who offered Jones a personal loan and a job as Mercury’s vice president, making him the first black man to hold that position. .
In 1958, Jones first worked with legendary singer Frank Sinatra, a professional relationship that would later become a close friend. After his death in 1998, the “Fly Me To The Moon” singer even left Jones a ring decorated with the family crest. In a Facebook post shared on March 9, 2016, Jones shared a black-and-white photo of an oval-shaped ring she was wearing on her pinky.
“This right here is the ring that bears Frank Sinatra’s family crest from Sicily,” Jones captioned the post. “Francis wore it for 40 years, before he left it when he passed, and I wear it every day. It is one of the most precious things, because it has and will continue to represent our eternal friendship.
Earlier this year, a gold ring similar to that worn by Tony Bennett by Sinatra sold for $63,500 at auction. According to Julien’s Auctions, Sinatra gave away 12 copies of his own gold pinky ring featuring the Sinatra family crest – a lion crowned with three stars – to give to friends and family members.
Jones went on to score several films in the 1960s, including In Cold Blood, for which he received his first Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. After its premiere in 1967, In Cold Blood grossed about $13m in the US – about $122.54m today.
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The Eighties saw one of the most successful periods of Jones’ career. He had approached film producer Steven Spielberg after receiving the adaptation rights to Alice Walker’s 1982 novel. Purple color and convinced Spielberg to direct the film, with him as co-producer and composer. Purple color grossed an estimated $98.47m in the United States and Canada after its theatrical release and earned 11 Oscar nominations in 1986.
Jones also starred in the 2023 film musical adaptation of Purple coloronce again co-producer Spielberg. However, the second adaptation of the novel fared poorly at the box office, grossing $67.5m despite having a $100m budget.
While working on the 1978 film The WizJones began his first collaboration with Jackson for an album From the Wall, which was released the following year. From the Wall has since sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, beaten only by the duo’s second collaboration, Thriller. In just one year, Jackson’s 1982 album sold 32 million copies worldwide, making it the best-selling album of all time. Since its release in November 1982, Thriller has sold approximately 70 million copies worldwide.
However, Jones’ illustrious career that produced some of Jackson’s biggest hits also sparked legal disputes after the King of Pop’s death in 2009. In July 2017, Jones won a lawsuit against Jackson’s estate for $9.4m in unpaid royalties. In 2020, Jones lost his appeal and had to make $6.8m.
Much of Jones’ later financial success was through his achievements as a businessman. In partnership with Warner Bros. Records, Jones founded the music label Qwest Records in 1980. 10 years later, he founded his own multimedia company with Time Warner, called Quincy Jones Entertainment – which included various programming and publishing ventures.
While serving as chairman and CEO of Quincy Jones Entertainment, he produced the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which aired on NBC from September 1990 to May 1996. Jones also ventured into publishing as the founder of a hip-hop magazine. Vibration in 1993, and published SPIN and Blaze magazine.
Through his broadcasting company Qwest Broadcasting, Jones acquired TV stations in Atlanta and New Orleans for $167m, effectively becoming the largest minority-owned broadcasting company in the US at the time.
According to APQuincy Jones Entertainment was sold for $270m in 1999. In 2001, Qwest Records closed after Warner Music Group reportedly bought Jones’ 50 percent stake in the label for approximately $10m. Meanwhile, Vibration magazine ceased publication after 16 years after being sold to venture capital firm, Wicks Capital, in 2009 for approximately $35m. SpinMedia later acquired it Vibration in 2013 for an undisclosed amount.
Jones is a longtime resident of the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. In 2005, the music mogul sold his former Bel Air home for $5.4 million. according to Los Angeles TimesJones was moved to a 25,000 square meter compound that was built west of Los Angeles.
Jones was married three times, first to his high school sweetheart Jeri Caldwell – with whom he shared his first child, Jolie – for nine years until 1966. He had a son and a daughter with his wife Ulla Andersson, with whom he married. seven years until divorce to marry Twin Peaks star Peggy Lipton. They had two daughters, including actor Rashida Jones, before divorcing in 1989.
Jones is no longer married but has two children, Rachel and Kenya, with dancer Carol Reynolds and actor Nastassja Kinski, respectively.
