Quincy Jones biography
Born On This Day
Happy Birthday! Quincy Jones is 81 today.
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Quick Facts
- NAME: Quincy Jones
- OCCUPATION: Children's Activist, Songwriter, Music Producer, Trumpet Player, Television Producer
- BIRTH DATE: March 14, 1933 (Age: 81)
- EDUCATION: Berklee College of Music
- PLACE OF BIRTH: Chicago, Illinois
- Nickname: "Q"
- AKA: Quincy Delight Jones
- Full Name: Quincy Delight Jones Jr.
- ZODIAC SIGN: Pisces
Best Known For
Quincy Jones is best known as a composer and record producer for legendary musicians such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Celene Dion and Aretha Franklin.Quiz
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Synopsis
Quincy Jones was convinced at an early age to explore music by his teenage friend Ray Charles.
He played in various bands through the 50's, began composing for film
and television in the mid 60's and eventually produced over 50 scores.
He has worked with musicians Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra,
Aretha Franklin and Celine Dion.
He's also the most Grammy-nominated artist in history, with 79
nominations and 27 wins. Jones founded a charity for youth in 1985.
Early Career
Famed musician Quincy Jones was born Quincy Delight Jr. on March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois. A multifaceted jazz and pop figure who became the most Grammy-nominated artist in history with 79 nominations and 27 wins, he began with his Seattle teenage friend Ray Charles, who interested him in arranging. He played trumpet and arranged for Lionel Hampton (1951-3), then worked as a freelance arranger on many jazz sessions. He served as musical director for Dizzy Gillespie's overseas big-band tour (1956), worked for Barclay Records in Paris (1957-8), and led an all-star big band for the European production of Harold Arlen's blues opera, "Free and Easy" (1959).Returning to New York, Jones composed and arranged for Count Basie, Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan, while holding an executive post at Mercury Records and producing his own increasingly pop-oriented records. In the mid-1960s he began composing for films and television, eventually producing over 50 scores and serving as a trailblazing African-American musician in the Hollywood arena.
Jones produced Aretha Franklin's 1973 album Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky).
Qwest Productions
In 1975, Jones founded Qwest Productions, for which he arranged and produced hugely successful albums by Frank Sinatra and other major pop figures. In 1978, he produced the soundtrack for the musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, The Wiz, starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. In 1982, Jones's produced Michael Jackson's all-time best-selling album Thriller.In June 2009, a statement on his website regarding the sudden death of Jackson, Jones stated "I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on The Wiz and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the 80's. To this day, the music we created together on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all... talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
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