Death of Quincy Jones, brilliant producer behind Michael Jackson’s successes

Maker of global hits from Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson, the American producer and jazz trumpeter Quincy Jones, whose death at the age of 91 was announced on Monday, marked his era by establishing himself as a composer of ” genius “with a multi-awarded career.

In an environment where producers most often work in the shadows, the musician, composer, arranger and producer is one of the few to have stepped into the spotlight, standing out as a reference in American music during the second half. of the 20th century.

Il “passed away peacefully” at his home in Los Angeles in the presence “of his children, his brothers and sisters and his immediate family”announced his press secretary Arnold Robinson in a press release.

“While this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life he lived and know there will never be another like him.”said his family.

“With you, life was swinging, it was jazzy, you were joy and rhythm, you were a genius! »reacted on X the French music hall artist Line Renaud, who made a career across the Atlantic in the 1960s.

“Rest in peace”wrote American guitarist and composer Nile Rodgers on Instagram. “Quincy was not only a legend; he was an inspiration, a pioneer and a true genius”estimated French star DJ David Guetta on the same social network.

The composer’s life flirts with the beautiful stories of Uncle Sam: born in 1933 in a Chicago city hit by the Great Depression, to a mother suffering from schizophrenia and a carpenter father, Quincy Delight Jones Jr., from his real name, saw himself becoming a gangster but, at the age of 11, came across a piano. It’s a revelation, the first note of his life as an artist.

“Breaking boundaries”

In his memoirs, he describes his meeting with Ray Charles as “blessing”as this elder, with whom he hung out in local clubs as a teenager, guided him in learning music.

Without limiting himself in genres – jazz, soul, disco, pop or funk – Quincy Jones defines the new score of international variety that makes you dance, from « Give me the night » (George Benson) in his own titles « Oh no race » or the instrumental « Soul Bossa Nova »and worked closely with Frank Sinatra.

“Quincy Jones loved to surprise and break boundaries. Style, age or nationality didn’t matter, only the quality of the music mattered. Such open-mindedness was rare in the industry”declared on Instagram the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), that the musician was never missing.

His CV was already well-stocked when he experienced the definitive turning point in his career, in 1978, thanks to the meeting with Michael Jackson, who sought to explore new sounds.

The chemistry between Jackson, Jones and sound engineer Bruce Swedien is more than just sparks.

It produces the three best albums of the « King of pop »: « Off the wall » (1979), « Bad » (1987) and especially « Thriller » (1982), the best-selling album in history, selling more than 100 million copies.

28 Grammy Awards

An eclectic and hard worker, Quincy Jones has released more than 400 records and won 28 Grammy Awards, achieving the status of living legend.

In 1957, he moved to Paris, meeting jazzmen and stars of the time like Charles Aznavour.

He was also made Commander of Arts and Letters in 2014 by the former Minister of Culture Jack Lang, who praised this “guardian of tradition and harbinger of new trends”.

That same year came out « Paris »third album by French singer Zaz, three tracks of which were produced by the maestro.

Prolific in music and in family – he had seven children -, « Q »the nickname of this polyglot jack-of-all-trades, had also turned to the production of films (“The Color Purple” by Steven Spielberg, 1985) and series (“The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”, which revealed Will Smith).

As a good conductor, he brought together a panel of stars, from Bob Dylan to Cyndi Lauper, for the successful charity song « We are the world » (1985), recorded by the « supergroupe »« USA for Africa » and dedicated to the fight against famine in Ethiopia.

“No one has had a career as incredible as Quincy Jones”reacted Elton John on social networks. “He played with the best and he produced the best. What a guy. »