2024 has been the year of celebrity deaths, and while we are still grieving the loss of several Hollywood stars, there’s another bad news.
The world has lost its talented music icon, Quincy Jones. Here’s what we know about the death of one of the most prolific and celebrated music geniuses.
Quincy Jones Passes Away Peacefully
According to reports, Quincy Jones peacefully passed away in his home in Bel-Air, on November 3, aged 91. The news was confirmed to journalists by his publicist Arnold Robinson. In a statement full of heart, his family expressed their deep loss.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. We celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him,” the statement read.
With Jones’ death, the music industry and American culture have lost nothing less than a giant. His career spanned over seven decades where he broke racial barriers and achieved many firsts.
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Before Jones was even 30 years old, he became the first Black vice president of Mercury Records, paving the way for a legacy of breaking new ground. In 1968, he became the first Black nominee for an Oscar for Best Original Song with ‘The Eyes of Love‘ from ‘Banning‘.
By 1971, he made history as the first Black musical director and conductor at the Academy Awards.
Quincy Jones Left A Phenomenal Legacy Behind
Quincy Jones was versatile, and composed music for a phenomenal range of artists including Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, and Aretha Franklin, to name a few. His output in genres ranging from jazz to pop and rock ‘n’ roll is unbeaten.
He has been credited with 28 Grammy Awards and holds the record as the third most-awarded individual in Grammy history, having been presented with a Grammy Legend Award.
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Outside the music world, Jones was a composer of films as important as ‘In Cold Blood‘ (1967) and ‘The Wiz‘ (1977). He has also worked as a producer for many films, including ‘The Color Purple‘ (1985).
His passing now marks an end to a chapter, but his marks on musical and cultural heritage will be with us forever.
