Quincy Jones

Quincy Delight Jones II (born March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois) is an United States record, television and film producer, musician, arranger and songwriter. Jones is especially well known for his work with Michael Jackson as the co-producer of Jackson's most famous albums (Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad).

Career

Jones got his start playing along with the slightly older Ray Charles in the jazz clubs of what is now known as the Pioneer Square district of Seattle, Washington. He got his first break as a trumpeter for the Lionel Hampton Orchestra in 1951. Throughout the 1950s, he became a skilled arranger and led many small bands.

Related Topics:
Ray Charles - Pioneer Square - Seattle, Washington - Trumpet - Lionel Hampton - 1951 - 1950s

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In 1957, he began a career as a record producer at Barclay Records in Paris where he also performed at the famous Paris Olympia.

Related Topics:
1957 - Barclay Records - Paris - Paris Olympia

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1960s

In 1960, he was hired by Mercury Records as the first black vice president of a major record label. When jazz became less popular, he was asked to produce some pop singles; his first was the hit It's My Party by Lesley Gore.

Related Topics:
1960 - Mercury Records - Jazz - Lesley Gore

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In 1962 he wrote Soul Bossa Nova, an easy listening tune which became famous decades later as the Austin Powers Theme.

Related Topics:
1962 - Easy listening - Austin Powers

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He moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1960s where he began writing film scores. Jones scored many films, including In Cold Blood, The Pawnbroker, In the Eyes of Love, and Mirage.

Related Topics:
Los Angeles - 1960s - In Cold Blood

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He has also composed several television theme songs, for shows such as Ironside (which featured the early use of a synthesizer), and Sanford and Son.

Related Topics:
Ironside - Sanford and Son

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:(The Ironside theme, from Jones' album Smackwater Jack, was also used by Quentin Tarantino for the soundtrack of Kill Bill, Vol. 1.)

Related Topics:
Quentin Tarantino - Kill Bill, Vol. 1

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In wrote the score for the 1967 Oscar-winning Sidney Poitier film In the Heat of the Night, and its 1970 sequel They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!.

Related Topics:
1967 - Sidney Poitier - In the Heat of the Night - 1970 - They Call Me MISTER Tibbs!

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In 1969, he recorded Walking In Space, an early jazz fusion record.

Related Topics:
1969 - Jazz fusion

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Also in 1969, he scored the Michael Caine film The Italian Job.

Related Topics:
1969 - Michael Caine - The Italian Job

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1970s

During the 1970s Quincy began producing more pop and less jazz. This drew criticism that he was "selling out".

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In 1971, he composed the theme to the NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie.

Related Topics:
1971 - NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie

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In 1977, Sidney Lumet asked Jones to score The Wiz, an updated Wizard of Oz. It was there that he met Michael Jackson and they soon agreed that Jones would produce Jackson's solo albums.

Related Topics:
1977 - Sidney Lumet - The Wiz - Wizard of Oz - Michael Jackson

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During 1976-1980, Quincy Jones produced 4 albums 2 with

Related Topics:
1976 - 1980

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Bobby Martin as co-producer, of Brothers Johnson, all of which got in to Top 20 US.

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Other accomplishments

Jones also produced the "We Are The World" single in the mid 1980s. During the recording session for the album, which featured a myriad of successful artists, Jones memorably put a sign on the wall of the recording studio which read, "Please check your egos at the door."

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In 1989 Jones produced "Back On The Block", which included stars Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, George Benson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan, as well as Big Daddy Kane and other hip-hop stars.

Related Topics:
1989 - Back On The Block - Dizzy Gillespie - Miles Davis - George Benson - Ella Fitzgerald - Sarah Vaughan - Big Daddy Kane - Hip-hop

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His television production credits include The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and his film production credits include The Color Purple. He has won 26 Grammy Awards and received Kennedy Center Honors in 2001.

Related Topics:
Television - The Fresh Prince of Bel Air - Film - The Color Purple - Grammy Awards - Kennedy Center Honors - 2001

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Jones is also the owner of VIBE magazine, the most popular hip-hop/R&B monthly magazine in the United States.

Related Topics:
''VIBE'' magazine - R&B

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Since May 2005 he's been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

Related Topics:
2005 - The Huffington Post

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