Entertainment

Quincy Jones, Legendary Producer Behind “Thriller” and “We Are the World”, Dies at 91

Legendary musician and producer Quincy Jones, who collaborated with icons like Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra, has passed away at 91.

Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that he “passed away peacefully” on Sunday night at his Bel Air home. In a heartfelt statement, his family shared, “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. 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.”

Best known for producing Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album, Jones enjoyed a career spanning over 75 years, during which he won 28 Grammy Awards and was celebrated as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by “Time” magazine.

Early in his career, Jones collaborated closely with Frank Sinatra, famously reimagining “Fly Me to the Moon” as a swing hit. His work on “The Wiz” brought him together with a young Michael Jackson, leading to his production of Jackson’s groundbreaking albums “Off the Wall”, “Thriller”, and “Bad”.

In 1985, Jones organized a star-studded lineup including Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Cyndi Lauper to record the charity single “We Are the World”, co-written to aid victims of famine in Ethiopia. The song topped the charts in the US and UK and was performed at Live Aid, cementing its legacy as the US counterpart to “Do They Know It’s Christmas”.

Beyond music, Jones composed soundtracks for over 50 films and TV shows, including “The Italian Job” (1969) and produced “The Color Purple”, launching Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg into the spotlight. He also produced the popular TV show “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”.

Jones’ accomplishments extended to all major entertainment awards, with multiple Grammy wins, including a Legend Award in 1992, as well as recognition from the Emmys, Tonys, and Oscars.

He leaves behind seven children, including music producer Quincy Jones III and actress Rashida Jones, known for her role in the US version of “The Office”.

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