Quincy Jones, respected music producer, dies aged 91

Legendary music producer Quincy Jones, who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin, among others, has died at the age of 91. The news comes from Jones' publicist, who told the Associated Press that he died on Sunday evening, November 3rd.

“Tonight it is with full but broken hearts that we must bear the news of the passing of our father and brother Quincy Jones. And while this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life he led and know there will never be another like him.”

Quincy Jones is survived by his seven children Rashida Jones, Kidada Jones, Kenya Kinski-Jones, Quincy Jones III, Jolie Jones Levine, Martina Jones and Rachel Jones.

With 28 Grammy wins and 80 nominations since 1961, Jones is the second-most Grammy-winning artist in history, behind Beyoncé. The sheer number of hits and world-renowned artists Quincy Jones has helped create far exceeds the number of any other contemporary music producer.

From the production of Michael Jackson thriller Until co-writing Lionel Richie's “We Are The World”, Jones was a prolific composer, producer and musical mastermind whose work spanned a variety of musical genres throughout his career – Jones not only produced the hits of the King of Pop “Bille Jean “, “Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough” and “Thriller”, but also recruited guitar virtuoso Eddie Van Halen for the guitar solo on the multiplatinum hit “Beat It”.

In addition to working with major pop and R&B icons such as Michael Jackson, Ray Charles and Lionel Richie, Jones has also worked on nearly 40 film soundtracks throughout his career.

His achievements include being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Class of 2013), being nominated for seven Academy Awards (and winning one), being awarded the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, and being inducted into the Rock and Roll Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame Hall of Fame as a charter member in 2021.

There is no doubt that Quincy Jones' legacy will be remembered as one of the most revered careers in all of contemporary music, as his musical work continues to shape and have a significant influence on music production and pop songwriting to this day has.