He will be missed - my first contact with Quincy
Sad news today to hear the passing of a legend of so many music areas. I came across Quincy first when I bought the Michael Jackson album as music cassette called "Thriller" - back in 1982.
The story why i bought was fun or interesting - read tons of upcoming album valuations - the Thriller album was one of 26 in that magazine and the judge called it a bad album with no chance for success - history tells he might have been wrong - Thriller proably is still the most successful album all-time?
Unfortunatley I never met him - people knowing my music preferences might ask why? How can a guy into Techno and Metal (to reduce it to the common segmentation) be interested in a guy like Quincy Jones, a record producer, composer and more known for Jazz, Hip Hop, Soul, Pop, film music - styles I do rarely cover in my msuic-community?
Quincy was more than a musician - he changed the world
Well, he paved the way for a lot in society, not only music - I admire every kind of music, i love cross over styles that build bridges.
If one guy deserves so many Grammy awards it is Quincy - his career spans from 1950ies til today - that is an achievement. Quincy was a modest guy, often playing / acting in the background and had an eye for talents.
The list of famous musicians he discovered, produced, collaborated with, arranged for is long, including only:
- Frank Sinatra
- Count Basie
- Ella Fitzgerald
- Michael Jackson (not only Thriller)
- Diana Ross
- Miles Davis
- Celine Dion
- Lesley Gore (including "It's My Party" - song i love based on a remake in the early 80ies though by Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin)
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He was the one to produce the charity song "We Are the World", which raised funds for victims of famine in Ethiopia in the 1980ies. He was a prominent activest for since the 1960s supporting Martin Luther King, was one of the founders of the Institute for Black American Music (IBAM),Quincy was simply a good human being, fighting for his believes, for freedom and acceptance. He will be indeed missed!