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Quincy Jones Biography: Life and Career of the Producer and Composer


with a career spanning over 50 years

with a career spanning over 50 years this musical genius shows no signs of

this musical genius shows no signs of

this musical genius shows no signs of slowing down

slowing down

slowing down welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re

welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re taking a look at the life and career of

taking a look at the life and career of

taking a look at the life and career of Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones Quincy delight Jones jr. was born March

Quincy delight Jones jr. was born March

Quincy delight Jones jr. was born March 14 1933 in Chicago Illinois while

14 1933 in Chicago Illinois while

14 1933 in Chicago Illinois while attending elementary school he began

attending elementary school he began

attending elementary school he began playing the trumpet his family then

playing the trumpet his family then

playing the trumpet his family then moved to Bremerton Washington where he

moved to Bremerton Washington where he

moved to Bremerton Washington where he attended high school and gained further

attended high school and gained further

attended high school and gained further musical instruction from arranger and

musical instruction from arranger and

musical instruction from arranger and producer Robert Blackwell during the

producer Robert Blackwell during the

producer Robert Blackwell during the 1950’s Jones quit studying music at

1950’s Jones quit studying music at

1950’s Jones quit studying music at college to play trumpet on popular

college to play trumpet on popular

college to play trumpet on popular bandleader Lionel Hamptons tour

he then moved to New York City where he

he then moved to New York City where he became a freelance song arranger for his

became a freelance song arranger for his

became a freelance song arranger for his friend Ray Charles and acts like Dinah

friend Ray Charles and acts like Dinah

friend Ray Charles and acts like Dinah Washington Count Basie and Duke

Washington Count Basie and Duke

Washington Count Basie and Duke Ellington following a tour as trumpeter

Ellington following a tour as trumpeter

Ellington following a tour as trumpeter and musical director of the Dizzy

and musical director of the Dizzy

and musical director of the Dizzy Gillespie Ben in the mid-1950s Jones

Gillespie Ben in the mid-1950s Jones

Gillespie Ben in the mid-1950s Jones became the front man of his own jazz

became the front man of his own jazz

became the front man of his own jazz band and began recording music for

band and began recording music for

band and began recording music for abc-paramount records in 1956 he

abc-paramount records in 1956 he

abc-paramount records in 1956 he released the first of his over 30 albums

released the first of his over 30 albums

released the first of his over 30 albums this is how I feel about jazz the next

this is how I feel about jazz the next

this is how I feel about jazz the next year Jones moved to Paris to study music

year Jones moved to Paris to study music

year Jones moved to Paris to study music and soon became the music director of

and soon became the music director of

and soon became the music director of French record distributor Berkeley discs

French record distributor Berkeley discs

French record distributor Berkeley discs during the next years he toured North

during the next years he toured North

during the next years he toured North America and Europe as part of the Jones

America and Europe as part of the Jones

America and Europe as part of the Jones boys despite well reviewed performances

boys despite well reviewed performances

boys despite well reviewed performances the 18 piece big band failed to make

the 18 piece big band failed to make

the 18 piece big band failed to make ends meet and broke up Mercury Records

ends meet and broke up Mercury Records

ends meet and broke up Mercury Records founder Urban Green helped Jones bounced

founder Urban Green helped Jones bounced

founder Urban Green helped Jones bounced back by hiring him as musical director

back by hiring him as musical director

back by hiring him as musical director for the labels New York division within

for the labels New York division within

for the labels New York division within a few years

a few years

a few years Jones advanced to vice-president and

Jones advanced to vice-president and

Jones advanced to vice-president and became one of the first African

became one of the first African

became one of the first African Americans to hold a senior management

Americans to hold a senior management

Americans to hold a senior management job at such a predominantly white

job at such a predominantly white

job at such a predominantly white business the 1960s saw Jones arrange

business the 1960s saw Jones arrange

business the 1960s saw Jones arrange songs for some of music’s biggest stars

songs for some of music’s biggest stars

songs for some of music’s biggest stars namely Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald

namely Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald

namely Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald in 1962 Jones released his tenth album

in 1962 Jones released his tenth album

in 1962 Jones released his tenth album big band bossa nova it featured the

big band bossa nova it featured the

big band bossa nova it featured the popular tune soul bossa nova which has

popular tune soul bossa nova which has

popular tune soul bossa nova which has since appeared in numerous multimedia

since appeared in numerous multimedia

since appeared in numerous multimedia formats like the Austin Powers spy

formats like the Austin Powers spy

formats like the Austin Powers spy comedy series and in rapper Ludacris

comedy series and in rapper Ludacris

comedy series and in rapper Ludacris song number one spot Jones also began

song number one spot Jones also began

song number one spot Jones also began focusing his attention on film scoring

focusing his attention on film scoring

focusing his attention on film scoring his first major project was 1964 s the

his first major project was 1964 s the

his first major project was 1964 s the pawnbroker the movie success allowed him

pawnbroker the movie success allowed him

pawnbroker the movie success allowed him to leave Mercury Records and moved to

to leave Mercury Records and moved to

to leave Mercury Records and moved to Los Angeles where he composed the music

Los Angeles where he composed the music

Los Angeles where he composed the music for the drama the slender thread

Jones added more credits to his name

Jones added more credits to his name over the next years including walk don’t

over the next years including walk don’t

over the next years including walk don’t run in the heat of the night in cold

run in the heat of the night in cold

run in the heat of the night in cold blood and the Italian Job

blood and the Italian Job

blood and the Italian Job notable later scores included the 1978

notable later scores included the 1978

notable later scores included the 1978 musical The Wiz starring Michael Jackson

and the 1985 Steven Spielberg directed

and the 1985 Steven Spielberg directed period drama the color purple despite

period drama the color purple despite

period drama the color purple despite health problems Jones released six

health problems Jones released six

health problems Jones released six albums that hit number one on the jazz

albums that hit number one on the jazz

albums that hit number one on the jazz charts throughout the 1970s smack water

charts throughout the 1970s smack water

charts throughout the 1970s smack water Jack you’ve got a bad girl body heat

Jack you’ve got a bad girl body heat

Jack you’ve got a bad girl body heat mellow madness I heard that and sounds

mellow madness I heard that and sounds

mellow madness I heard that and sounds and stuff like that one of Joan’s

and stuff like that one of Joan’s

and stuff like that one of Joan’s crowning achievements was his three

crowning achievements was his three

crowning achievements was his three album collaboration with pop icon

album collaboration with pop icon

album collaboration with pop icon Michael Jackson and their first joint

Michael Jackson and their first joint

Michael Jackson and their first joint venture happened at the end of that

venture happened at the end of that

venture happened at the end of that decade 1979’s

decade 1979’s

decade 1979’s off the wall sold over 20 million copies

off the wall sold over 20 million copies

off the wall sold over 20 million copies and cemented Jones reputation as the

and cemented Jones reputation as the

and cemented Jones reputation as the most powerful producer in music next up

most powerful producer in music next up

most powerful producer in music next up was 1982 s history-making thriller which

was 1982 s history-making thriller which

was 1982 s history-making thriller which sold an astounding 110 million copies

sold an astounding 110 million copies

sold an astounding 110 million copies and remains the best-selling album of

and remains the best-selling album of

and remains the best-selling album of all time their final collaboration was

all time their final collaboration was

all time their final collaboration was 1987 s bad which sold over 30 million

1987 s bad which sold over 30 million

1987 s bad which sold over 30 million copies internationally with famine

copies internationally with famine

copies internationally with famine ravaging Ethiopia during the mid-1980s

ravaging Ethiopia during the mid-1980s

ravaging Ethiopia during the mid-1980s Jones helped put together the charity

Jones helped put together the charity

Jones helped put together the charity single we are the world performed by a

single we are the world performed by a

single we are the world performed by a group of artists dubbed USA for Africa

group of artists dubbed USA for Africa

group of artists dubbed USA for Africa the songs roster included a who’s who of

the songs roster included a who’s who of

the songs roster included a who’s who of the music industry the Platinum

the music industry the Platinum

the music industry the Platinum certified single won several Grammys in

certified single won several Grammys in

certified single won several Grammys in 1986 over the years Jones has been

1986 over the years Jones has been

1986 over the years Jones has been recognized frequently for his

recognized frequently for his

recognized frequently for his contributions to music arts and

contributions to music arts and

contributions to music arts and education

education

education he is won over 20 Grammys out of his 70

he is won over 20 Grammys out of his 70

he is won over 20 Grammys out of his 70 plus nominations was the first African

plus nominations was the first African

plus nominations was the first African American to be nominated for an Oscar

American to be nominated for an Oscar

American to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song and score and

for Best Original Song and score and

for Best Original Song and score and holds multiple honorary degrees and

holds multiple honorary degrees and

holds multiple honorary degrees and doctorates in addition to music Jones

doctorates in addition to music Jones

doctorates in addition to music Jones became a passionate social activist with

became a passionate social activist with

became a passionate social activist with his own entertainment company and

his own entertainment company and

his own entertainment company and released an autobiography pioneer

released an autobiography pioneer

released an autobiography pioneer innovator record breaker and

innovator record breaker and

innovator record breaker and humanitarian are just a few words to

humanitarian are just a few words to

humanitarian are just a few words to describe Quincy Jones who shows no signs

describe Quincy Jones who shows no signs

describe Quincy Jones who shows no signs of stopping in his later years

with so much creative fuel driving them

with so much creative fuel driving them forward

forward

forward Jones musical ingenuity seems limitless

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