Quincy Jones, the trailblazing producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, died on November 3, 2024, at the age of 91. Known for producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Off the Wall, and for his work on The Color Purple, Jones was a master of musical fusion, blending jazz, R&B and pop influences. Jones earned 28 Grammy Awards over his seven-decade career —the most for any living artist, making him one of the most celebrated figures in music history.
While Jones was born in Chicago, he maintained a deep connection to New Orleans. A strong advocate for African American music traditions, Jones often collaborated with New Orleans musicians, incorporating the city’s jazz and brass sounds into his productions. His connection to New Orleans wasn’t just musical but educational; Jones supported initiatives to bring music programs to young people across the country, including several in New Orleans. He also purchased a television station in New Orleans.
Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones found solace in music at an early age. He began playing trumpet and arranging music as a teenager, and by the age of 19, he joined jazz great Lionel Hampton‘s band. This period honed his skills as an arranger and musician, eventually leading him to Paris to study under Nadia Boulanger, who counted Igor Stravinsky and Aaron Copland among her students.
Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, Jones collaborated with jazz icons like Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie and Duke Ellington. He became one of the first Black executives at a major record label when he joined Mercury Records, breaking barriers in an industry that was, at the time, reluctant to allow Black musicians into positions of leadership.
In 1982, Jones teamed up with Michael Jackson for Thriller, an album that changed the landscape of pop music and became the best-selling album of all time. He produced unforgettable hits like “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.” Jones’s musical alchemy also extended to film scores, where he brought his touch to movies like In the Heat of the Night and The Color Purple, for which he was an Academy Award nominee.
Yet Jones’s genius wasn’t limited to production alone; he helped cultivate an entire ecosystem of Black artists, giving them visibility and mentoring younger talents. Artists such as Will Smith, Oprah Winfrey, and even contemporary rappers like Kendrick Lamar have cited Jones as a trailblazer. His impact on hip-hop in particular—a genre that blossomed long after his early jazz days—demonstrates his remarkable adaptability and understanding of new musical languages.
Beyond music, Jones is known for his humanitarian efforts and contributions to civil rights causes. He co-produced We Are the World, a charity single that brought together the world’s top artists to raise funds for famine relief in Africa. The song became an anthem for social change.
Jones was also a cultural commentator, often candidly discussing race, politics and the music industry’s future. He not only founded VIBE Magazine, he remained engaged on streaming platforms discussing topics such as the direction of modern jazz, and the complexities of creating and maintaining a legacy up until his death.
Jones’ influence in music and cultural representation will endure, particularly in New Orleans, where jazz continues to be a living art—a legacy Jones celebrated and strengthened through his lifelong dedication to artistic innovation.
