Quincy Jones 1933-2024

[dudog84]

Quincy Jones, an absolute giant in the music industry, has passed. Very few have had so much impact with so many artists. He's probably on the Mount Rushmore of music executives.

Quincy Jones, music titan who worked with everyone from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, dies at 91

Jones' publicist, Arnold Robinson, says he died Sunday night at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.

apnews.com

R.I.P.

 

[jv001]

RIP! A giant in the music industry. Prayers for the family.

 

[Phredd3]

Absolutely on the Music Executive Mount Rushmore. Probably in that first spot, honestly. His impact on music and music culture is almost impossible to over-estimate. That's a big loss.

 

[moonpie23]

sail on, my brother.....sail on......you're work will be handed down for generations to come....

 

[CameronBornAndBred]

Most famously known for directing the orchestra in a scene from Austin Powers Goldmember, Jones had other influences on music as well.

Kidding of course, but I do love that scene! It's virtually impossible to not have heard something that Jones had his hands on during any given day on the radio. People that have had that kind of impact always amaze me. He had a long life, and he sure made the most of it.

 

[Skydog]

And he gave us Rashida.

 

[camion]

And he gave us Rashida.

Quincy and Rashida, together again.

Linky

 

[brevity]

I saw this thread yesterday and was going to add some facts about Quincy Jones' life, but then realized that I should write a set of questions to use for Halftime Trivia in DBR Chat during last night's game against Maine. (Otherwise I was going to ask about lobster, which sounded really boring.)

Anyway, here are the questions.

Halftime Trivia!

Here are 6 questions about musician/composer/producer Quincy Jones, who passed away Sunday night at the age of 91.

1. Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. was born on March 14, 1933, the same day as what British actor, who won Academy Awards for Hannah and Her Sisters and The Cider House Rules?

Spoiler!

Sir Michael Caine. They first collaborated on the 1969 film The Italian Job, Caine as the star and Jones as the composer.

2. Jones wrote and produced the 1962 track "Soul Bossa Nova," which made its first big screen appearance in the 1964 film The Pawnbroker, but was more famously used much later as the opening theme for what 1997-2002 comedy trilogy?

Spoiler!

Austin Powers. In the third film's extended opening credits, Mike Myers introduces Jones, who makes a cameo appearance to conduct the orchestra.

Michael Caine played Austin's father in Goldmember, so that's another collaboration between him and Jones.

Playing piano on "Soul Bossa Nova" was Lalo Schifrin; he composed the "Mission: Impossible" theme five years later.

3. In an interview, Jones said he spent only 20 minutes composing "The Streetbeater", the instantly recognizable theme song of what hit TV comedy series, which ran from 1972-1977?

Spoiler!

"Sanford and Son". He told the producers that he didn't need to watch the pilot episode, and just wrote a song that he felt matched the rough edges of the show's star, Redd Foxx.

4. When recording Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album in 1982, Jones asked what famous rock guitarist to contribute an instrumental solo for the song "Beat It"?

Spoiler!

Eddie Van Halen, who died in 2020. He told CNN that he thought it was a prank call, but agreed to do it for free when he visited the recording studio the next day. (The rest of his band was out of town.)

Eddie's brother Alex Van Halen recently told Rolling Stone magazine that he's still mad at his late brother for taking on that side project, because it opened the door for David Lee Roth to leave the band.

Alex also said that if Eddie wanted to work with Michael, they could have done it for a Van Halen project. Instead, the band's "1984" album never reached #1 because it was always behind "Thriller".

5. Jones won 28 Grammy Awards, but was winless at the Oscars, with 7 nominations. Three of those nods were as a composer, songwriter, and film producer of what 1985 Steven Spielberg drama?

Spoiler!

The Color Purple, which famously went 0-for-11 in the 1986 ceremony.

Steven Spielberg also appeared as himself in the Goldmember opening credits, directing the (fake) big-budget Austin Powers movie starring Tom Cruise and Gwyneth Paltrow.

In 1995, the Academy gave Jones the Humanitarian Award, and, sadly, he was to receive an Honorary Oscar (the standard gold statuette) in a special ceremony later this month.

6. Actress Rashida Jones (TV's "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation") is one of Quincy's 7 children. She and older sister Kidada were born during Quincy's 1974-1990 marriage to what "Mod Squad" and "Twin Peaks" actress?

Spoiler!

Peggy Lipton, who died in 2019.

Rashida is also a screenwriter, co-writing the story for "Toy Story 4" and creating the 2023 Hulu series "The Other Black Girl".

 

[HoKogan]

Dont forget he composed the Sanford and Son themesong, one of the best ever.

EDIT: Could be a clue for Brevity's quiz

 

[budwom]

There's a great video on the WaPo (cancellation hasn't kicked in yet) of Frank Sinatra singing Fly Me To The Moon, arranged by Quincy,
https://www.google.com/search?q=fl+...ate=ive&vld=cid:acf686b5,vid:pQjrXU0ZaiA,st:0

here's the audio

 

[dudog84]

There's a great video on the WaPo (cancellation hasn't kicked in yet) of Frank Sinatra singing Fly Me To The Moon, arranged by Quincy,
https://www.google.com/search?q=fl+...ate=ive&vld=cid:acf686b5,vid:pQjrXU0ZaiA,st:0

here's the audio

I think this is your WaPo article on msn, therefore free:

MSN

 

[sciencegeek]

RIP Quincy Jones!

 

[Skydog]

There's a great video on the WaPo (cancellation hasn't kicked in yet) of Frank Sinatra singing Fly Me To The Moon, arranged by Quincy,
https://www.google.com/search?q=fl+...ate=ive&vld=cid:acf686b5,vid:pQjrXU0ZaiA,st:0

here's the audio

I canceled WaPo as well. But to be honest, I was looking for an excuse to do so. I find myself reading the NYT frequently but seldom the Post.

 

[budwom]

I canceled WaPo as well. But to be honest, I was looking for an excuse to do so. I find myself reading the NYT frequently but seldom the Post.

Bezos groveling for Trump yesterday only confirms my decision...

 

[Skydog]

Bezos groveling for Trump yesterday only confirms my decision...

I missed that. I’ve been shying away from the news since Nov 6. If its not on DBR I’m unlikely to see it.

 

[Mtn.Devil.91.92.01.10.15]

Qunicey Jones was an absolute icon. If Rashida needs some comfort in this difficult time, I'll make myself available.

 

[Skydog]

Qunicey Jones was an absolute icon. If Rashida needs some comfort in this difficult time, I'll make myself available.

Your genorisity knows no bounds, Mtn. Even when it should.

 

[tommy]

There's a podcast up on Fresh Air, replaying Teri Gross's 2001 interview with Quincy. It's really interesting and entertaining. Lots of great stories and music interspersed into the interview. What a smart and accomplished guy. Check it out.