Quincy Jones, Music Visionary Behind Thriller And We Are The World, Passes At 91

Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer, composer, and arranger whose legacy spans historic achievements like producing Michael Jackson’s Thriller, crafting award-winning film and television scores, and collaborating with icons like Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, has passed away at 91.

His publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that Jones died peacefully at his Bel Air home in Los Angeles on Sunday night, surrounded by family.

“With full but heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved Quincy,” the family shared in a statement. “While we mourn his loss deeply, we celebrate the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another like him.”

From a challenging youth on the South Side of Chicago, Jones ascended to the pinnacle of the music and entertainment industry, becoming one of Hollywood’s first successful Black executives and leaving a lasting impact on American music. His remarkable career meant that anyone who loved music likely owned an album with his touch, and his influence reached across the entertainment world and beyond.

Jones mingled with presidents, world leaders, Hollywood stars, and music legends alike. He toured with Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, arranged for Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, composed scores for Roots and In the Heat of the Night, organized President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural celebration, and orchestrated the iconic We Are the World charity recording for African famine relief in 1985.

Lionel Richie, who co-wrote We Are the World, fondly described him as “the master orchestrator.”