Quincy Jones
In six decades as a composer, arranger, producer of records, films and TV programs, record company executive, magazine founder and multi-media entrepreneur, Quincy Jones has fused pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African and Brazilian music to entertain audiences worldwide. He has been nominated for more Grammy awards than anyone, and received France's most distinguished title, the Légion d' Honneur.
Jones sang in a gospel quartet at age 12 and studied trumpet in junior high school. He attended Berklee College of Music, but left to tour with Lionel Hampton's band. These experiences led to arranging and recording music for legends of jazz in the U.S. and France.
Jones was the first popular conductor-arranger to record with a Fender bass. His theme for Ironside was the first synthesizer-based pop theme song. He was the first African American composer to be embraced by Hollywood, writing 33 major motion picture scores and becoming the first high-level black executive of a major record company and a television executive producer.
Jones's landmark album, Back on the Block, was named "Album of the Year" at the 1990 Grammy Awards. His recording of Miles and Quincy Live at Montreux won a Grammy for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance. He produced and conducted the best-selling single of all time -- "We Are The World" - as well as the best-selling album of all time -- Michael Jackson's Thriller. Jones was also executive producer of the most-watched award show in the world - the 68th Annual Academy Awards.
He continues to record through his own label, Quest Records.
