Like the word "Hero," the term "Legend" is thrown around unceremoniously and undeservedly these days. But mega mogul, producer, songwriter, and legend Quincy Jones epitomizes it. Jones shaped cultures and generations with his music and his recognition and nurture of other musical artists for 70 YEARS, and over those seven decades, he never missed a beat. Pun fully intended. 

Baby Boomers got their first taste of the legend through Jones' collaborations with Frank Sinatra and the Count Basie Orchestra on “It Might as Well Be Swing” (1964) and the live album “Sinatra at the Sands” (1966). It was Sinatra's recording of Jones' arrangement of "Fly Me To The Moon" that Astronaut Buzz Aldrin had them play when he actually landed on the moon. 

Iconic.

As a part of Gen X, I think we received the best of legend: Jones' decade-long partnership with icon Michael Jackson sealed that deal. Jones launched Michael Jackson's solo career with "Off the Wall" (1979), made musical history with "Thriller" (1982), and perfected that worldwide legendary status with the definitive USA for Africa music-artist extravaganza, "We Are The World" (1985). 

Millennials can name the diverse collaborative album, "Q Soul Bossa Nostra” (2010), as their generation's touchstone. The album included new recordings of Jones material sung by Jennifer Hudson, Amy Winehouse, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Wyclef Jean, and Three 6 Mafia.

Jones was the first Black person to score a feature film -- Sidney Lumet's 1964 movie, "The Pawnbroker." Jones composed and produced the soundtrack for the 1977 ABC miniseries, “Roots,” and was the music supervisor for the 1978 film, "The Wiz," adapted from the successful Broadway musical. Jones scored the 1980 Steven Spielberg film, "The Color Purple," and the 2023 remake. In the '90s, Jones executive produced "The Fresh Prince of Bel Air," launching rapper Will Smith into stardom. Jones even revolutionized the publishing world. He was the founder of "Vibe," a well-respected Hip-Hop magazine. The magazine would be the inspiration for a 1997 late-night talk show of the same name.

Jones doesn't need any comeback stories; he remained at the top of his game across a number of industries and genres since he began his career at 14 years old. His friendship and collaborations with the equally legendary Ray Charles are part of music industry lore, but unlike Charles, Jones' musical preeminence has never been plagued by rumor or scandal (Looking at you, Diddy). 

Jones was not only the author of his own life story, but he was able to dictate how it was presented to the world. Jones penned his autobiography "Q" in 2001, and was awarded a Grammy for the audio version of the book in 2002. Jones' illustrious life, decades-long career, and some of his little-known personal struggles were chronicled by his own daughter: actress, comedian and filmmaker Rashida Jones in the 2018 Netflix documentary, "Quincy."

LL Cool J called Quincy Jones “a father and example at a time when I truly needed a father and example."

"Music would not be music without you," he added.https://t.co/r1LHDvDv5N pic.twitter.com/vdzrWymHtr

— Variety (@Variety) November 4, 2024

When Jones worked with Sinatra and Count Basie, he related a story about what Sinatra would tell them every night: "Guys," Sinatra said, "live every day like it's your last, and one day you'll be right."

On Sunday night, Jones was proved right, and this legend has now faded into memory. Surrounded by his family, Quincy Jones passed away at the age of 91.

Quincy Jones, who distinguished himself over the course of a 70-year career in music as an artist, bandleader, composer, arranger and producer, has died. He was 91.

Jones died Sunday night at his home in Bel Air, Calif., according to a statement shared with Variety by his rep Arnold Robinson. A cause of death was not disclosed. 

“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,” the Jones family said in the statement. “He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”

Jones’ eminence in the entertainment community was so great that he went by a one-letter handle: “Q.”

This incredible interview with David Letterman 14 years ago has Jones talking about his magnificent journey and storied relationships with the likes of Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, and Snoop Dogg.

WATCH:

He took up the trumpet, his principal instrument, as a boy. At the age of 10, his family moved to Seattle; there, as a novice musician of 14, he met 17-year-old Ray Charles.

By 18, after studying at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, Jones was touring with Lionel Hampton’s big band in a trumpet section that included Art Farmer and Clifford Brown. In the early ’50s, he honed his arranging chops by writing charts for trumpeter Clark Terry (an important early mentor), Count Basie, Dinah Washington and many others. He made his debut as a leader in 1953 in an octet co-led by drummer Roy Haynes.

After serving as band director for Dizzy Gillespie’s State Dept.-sponsored big band and doing stints at ABC-Paramount and France’s Barclay Records, Jones assembled an in-house orchestra at Mercury Records. Though a subsequent touring group collapsed financially, the association led to an A&R position at Mercury; by 1964, Jones was a VP at the label, where he produced pop singer Leslie Gore’s major hits.

In 1959-60, he arranged a pair of Charles’ finest albums, “The Genius of Ray Charles” and “Genius + Soul Jazz.” He received his first Grammy in 1964 for his arrangement of “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” Charles’ hit version of Don Gibson’s country tune.

At the behest of Sidney Lumet, Jones wrote the score for the director’s 1964 drama “The Pawnbroker.” That assignment — the first for a Black musician — led to prestige composing jobs on such features as “In Cold Blood,” “In the Heat of the Night” (which featured a title song by Ray Charles), “The Italian Job,” “Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice” and “The Getaway.”

#QuincyJones has passed away at 91. Recognized as one of the greatest American music producers of all time! With a career that spanned over 70 years, with 28 Grammys, A Kennedy Center Honor, Prime Time Emmy, Tony Award and more! 🕊️🙏🏽🎶 pic.twitter.com/oJZ2A1WzzL

— JAMILA MUSTAFA (@JMedia_) November 4, 2024

Jones has been awarded 28 Grammy Awards, and he was a three-time Producer of the Year honoree, but his most memorable collaboration was with Michael Jackson. Jackson's breakthrough solo album, 1979's "Off the Wall," has sold an estimated 20 million copies internationally. 1982's “Thriller” remains the bestselling album of all time, with worldwide sales estimated in excess of 110 million. Jones received the 1984 Grammy for Album of the Year, and one for Record of the Year for the song “Billie Jean.” In 1985, Jones produced USA for Africa's "We Are the World," which raised money and awareness for Ethiopian famine relief. Jones, Lionel Ritchie, and Jackson wrangled and collaborated with the Who's Who of '70s and '80s music, including Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tina Turner, and Willie Nelson, among others. Jones' final collaboration with Jackson was on 1987's “Bad.”

Jones has received a host of other awards and honors, including the 1989 Trustees Award and the 1991 Recording Academy’s Legend Award. In 2001, Jones received the Kennedy Center Honors, and in 2011 was awarded the National Medal of the Arts. In 2013, Jones was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the winner of the Ahmet Ertegun Award in conjunction with Lou Adler. Jones' life and legacy are unrivaled and probably will never be surpassed, at least not in my lifetime.

Quincy Jones was married and divorced three times, and is survived by his seven children. Rest well, Legend.