Quincy Jones’s cause of death has been revealed to be pancreatic cancer. According to TMZ, Jones’ death was confirmed by death certificate to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
There were no additional factors listed as a cause of death.
Legendary music producer Quincy Jones was laid to rest in an intimate ceremony in Los Angeles a week after his passing at age 91.
According to The Associated Press, the 28-time Grammy-winning composer and arranger was remembered by his family in a small, private gathering that included his seven children, his brother, two sisters, and close relatives. While the location of his burial remains undisclosed, the family expressed deep appreciation for the global tributes and condolences received.
The family shared in a statement they are “enormously grateful for the outpouring of condolences and tributes from his friends and fans from around the world. Details for a memorial celebration of Mr. Jones’ life will be announced at a later date.”
Jones, whose profound impact on music stretched across genres and decades, died peacefully at his Bel Air home on Nov. 3, surrounded by loved ones.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” a statement from the family said. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Jones infused his genius into jazz, pop, film, and television, leaving an indelible mark on modern music and culture. Born in Chicago on March 14, 1933, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most prolific and respected producers, composers, and arrangers in music history. As a young man, Jones attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston but left early to pursue his dreams. He began his career as a jazz trumpeter, working with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, before transitioning into arranging and conducting, which would become his true calling.
Jones was instrumental in crafting the sounds of numerous artists and producing some of the most influential albums of the 20th century. His work with Michael Jackson remains legendary, especially their collaborations on Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987), albums that redefined pop music and made Jackson a global superstar. Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, solidifying Jones’ reputation as a producer with an unparalleled ear for hits.
Beyond his work in pop, Jones was an accomplished film and television composer, scoring notable films such as The Color Purple (1985) and In the Heat of the Night (1967) and the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His groundbreaking arrangements and compositions earned him 28 Grammy Awards from 80 nominations, making him one of the most decorated artists in Grammy history.
Jones was also a pioneering advocate for social change, using his platform to support civil rights and champion diversity in the entertainment industry. His influence transcended music; he was a mentor, a cultural ambassador, and a visionary who brought together artists from all walks of life. In 1993, he was awarded the Grammy Legend Award, a fitting tribute to his status as one of the most transformative figures in music.
Legendary music producer Quincy Jones was laid to rest in an intimate ceremony in Los Angeles a week after his passing at age 91.
According to The Associated Press, the 28-time Grammy-winning composer and arranger was remembered by his family in a small, private gathering that included his seven children, his brother, two sisters, and close relatives. While the location of his burial remains undisclosed, the family expressed deep appreciation for the global tributes and condolences received.
The family shared in a statement they are “enormously grateful for the outpouring of condolences and tributes from his friends and fans from around the world. Details for a memorial celebration of Mr. Jones’ life will be announced at a later date.”
Jones, whose profound impact on music stretched across genres and decades, died peacefully at his Bel Air home on Nov. 3, surrounded by loved ones.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” a statement from the family said. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Jones infused his genius into jazz, pop, film, and television, leaving an indelible mark on modern music and culture. Born in Chicago on March 14, 1933, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most prolific and respected producers, composers, and arrangers in music history. As a young man, Jones attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston but left early to pursue his dreams. He began his career as a jazz trumpeter, working with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, before transitioning into arranging and conducting, which would become his true calling.
Jones was instrumental in crafting the sounds of numerous artists and producing some of the most influential albums of the 20th century. His work with Michael Jackson remains legendary, especially their collaborations on Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987), albums that redefined pop music and made Jackson a global superstar. Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, solidifying Jones’ reputation as a producer with an unparalleled ear for hits.
Beyond his work in pop, Jones was an accomplished film and television composer, scoring notable films such as The Color Purple (1985) and In the Heat of the Night (1967) and the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His groundbreaking arrangements and compositions earned him 28 Grammy Awards from 80 nominations, making him one of the most decorated artists in Grammy history.
Jones was also a pioneering advocate for social change, using his platform to support civil rights and champion diversity in the entertainment industry. His influence transcended music; he was a mentor, a cultural ambassador, and a visionary who brought together artists from all walks of life. In 1993, he was awarded the Grammy Legend Award, a fitting tribute to his status as one of the most transformative figures in music.
She shared a moving tribute on Instagram, which reads:
“My dad was nocturnal his whole adult life. He kept ‘jazz hours’ starting in high school and never looked back. When I was little, I would wake up in the middle of the night to search for him. Undoubtedly, he would be somewhere in the house, composing (old school, with a pen and sheet music). He would never send me back to bed. He would smile and bring me into his arms while he continued to work…there was no safer place in the world for me.
He was a giant. An icon. A culture shifter. A genius.
All accurate descriptions of my father but his music (and ALL of his work) was a channel for his love. He WAS love.
He made everyone he ever met feel loved and seen. That’s his legacy.
I was fortunate enough to experience this love in close proximity. I’ll miss his hugs and kisses and unconditional devotion and advice. Daddy, it is an honor to be your daughter. Your love lives forever.”
The comments section is full of supportive messages from some recognizable figures. “I love you lady,” Natalie Portman wrote. “So heartbroken. I love you so much,” said Gwyneth Paltrow. “(((((((((Hug))))))))))) for you all,” Questlove wrote.
Legendary singer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dionne Warwick recently paid tribute to Grammy and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame titan Quincy Jones, celebrating his lasting influence on music and entertainment. Warwick, a Grammy winner herself, recalled Jones’s unparalleled impact and his timeless contributions to shaping the industry.
Known for his musical genius across genres, Jones has left an indelible mark, inspiring countless artists. Warwick’s heartfelt words highlighted the deep respect and admiration Jones has earned over his decades-long career as a producer, arranger, and visionary in modern music.
Dr. Dre joins a list of luminaries honoring Quincy Jones’s life and legacy. Taking to Instagram, Dre revealed that Mr. Jones was why he “decided to become a record producer.”
“His records were my go-to when I started engineering,” Dr. Dre wrote. “All of the time that I spent hanging out with him was priceless and I love how open he was- the advice he gave me, the conversations we had have helped me in my life and career.”
You can see his full statement below and see the touching messages of others here.
“I fell in love with hip-hop in the late 1970s because it reminded me so much of bebop,” the late great Quincy Jones said of the art form and culture we know and love during a 2021 REVOLT interview. “Young people are seekers, man! They always have been. When we’re young, we all want to break the mold and find our truth, and that is a central tenet of both jazz and classical music! Besides, it all comes from the same stuff.” The music legend sadly passed away at 91 on Sunday night (November 3) surrounded by his family in his Bel Air home. He loved hip-hop, and hip-hop returned that passion. The Chicago native enlisted rappers Ice-T and Big Daddy Kane on 1989’s Back On The Block album, plus many MCs like Talib Kweli, T.I., Q-Tip, Three 6 Mafia, and more on his final album, Q: Soul Bossa Nostra.
With this and his indelible legacy and impact in mind, we decided to list six amazing hip-hop tracks that sample Quincy Jones’ work. We obviously couldn’t fit all of them on here, and there’s so much more to discover regarding these connections. LL COOL J’s “Hey Lover,” Ludacris’ “Number One Spot,” and De La Soul’s “Breakadawn,” along with many others, are too iconic to escape mention. But the musicality and creativity behind each of the following cuts leave no room for hyperbole: Quincy was, and forever will be, one of modern music’s indisputable legends for his craft, contributions, career achievements, and celebrations of the sonic language. Here’s how hip-hop chose to reimagine and pay tribute to his greatness.
How could we not kick things off with arguably the best hip-hop beat of all time? Produced by Havoc, Mobb Deep’s “Shook Ones Pt. II” features a wailing siren from Quincy Jones’ “Kitty With The Bent Frame.” It’s off the score from the 1971 film Dollars, which Quincy produced in full. What’s more, this isn’t even the start of his iconic movie collaborators, such as with Roots, The Wiz, The Color Purple, In Cold Blood, The Italian Job, and many more. Back to “Kitty With The Bent Frame,” though, this is an often haunting ambient cut whose urgent atmosphere, jazzy bass licks, and ominous keys provide the perfect backdrop for Prodigy’s legendarily gritty narratives. Ain’t no such thing as halfway efforts in much of Jones’ catalog.
Another iconic hip-hop cut, producer Johnny J used Quincy Jones and Leon Ware’s titular track from the former’s 1974 album Body Heat for 2Pac’s easy-riding All Eyez On Me cut from 1996, “How Do U Want It” featuring K-Ci & JoJo. ‘Pac adds his own sense of swagger to the original’s already funky and soulful melodies and instrumentation. Quincy’s track starts off soft, though, and eventually builds from muted guitars and sobbing synths into a brighter and more energetic jam with some gorgeous vocal melodies and grand drums. The notion that the West Coast legend was able to transform its tenderness into bravado is even more impressive, but that’s how resonant and universal the decades-long producer’s sensibilities are.
Now with a more straightforward example, we have The Pharcyde’s “Passin’ Me By” off their 1992 classic, Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde. The opening keys on that track are some of the most recognizable in hip-hop history, and they come from Quincy Jones’ 1973 album You’ve Got It Bad Girl. Together, with producer Ray Brown, he uses those opening moments on the track “Summer In The City” with Valerie Simpson to evoke that exact same vibe. There are some killer solos on here propelled by steady drums and heavenly string additions plus vocal soars further on. As for the South Central L.A. group, producer J-Swift adds more lively drums, scratches, and a seemingly altered bassline to keep that same soul alive under a different context. It still sounds like summer in the city, even 20 years removed from its original and over 30 years since they released it.
MC Lyte – “Keep On, Keepin’ On”
There are so many iconic Michael Jackson records that Quincy Jones produced that created monumental hip-hop tracks. “P.Y.T.” became Kanye West and T-Pain’s “Good Life,” and “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” by Nas flipped “Human Nature” perfectly. But we want to highlight MC Lyte’s smooth Xscape collab “Keep On, Keepin’ On” off her 1996 LP, Bad As I Wanna B. A lingering and ethereal synth hangs in the background, and some tuneful steel drums and trills add a lot of flavor and woozy moodiness to the song. Those sounds are from the Quincy and MJ-produced “Liberian Girl” off the blockbuster 1987 album Bad. It’s one of the most unique sonic pallets of that classic, and it resulted in one of the New York femcee’s most idiosyncratic cuts, as well.
Onto one of the most recent Quincy-sampling cuts, which comes from Big Sean and Metro Boomin’s 2017 collab project Double Or Nothing. Their track “No Hearts, No Love” opens with some playful keys and guitar licks, with the keys eventually down-tuned just a bit by producer Metro with some additional dark chords. Despite the solid trap beat, those glistening notes don’t lose their luster and, frankly, they make the track what it is thanks to its support of the Sean Don’s confident bars. Their origin stems from The Brothers Johnson’s 1977 album Right On Time produced by Quincy Jones, specifically the pop and funk-fusing “Strawberry Letter 23.” The original is a much more fun and happy cut overall, but again, those melodies are hard to deny in any context.
MF DOOM – “Rhymes Like Dimes”
Finally, we want to celebrate two late legends with this pick. Out of the wealth of iconic sample flips in MF DOOM’s catalog, the self-produced “Rhymes Like Dimes” off 1999’s Operation: Doomsday is among the most memorable and colorful. Those wondrous keys silky synth leads, and light drums are so joyful and warm that not even DOOM’s husk can take away from their sheen. In fact, it complements it perfectly. Quincy Jones brought this gem of a loop into the world on the 1981 album The Dude on the song “One Hundred Ways” featuring James Ingram. It’s actually the solo that appears after a healing and dream-like vocal performance and is one of many instances where Quincy created larger-than-life moments out of just a few elements and songwriting decisions. To put it bluntly, it’s a magical example of a timeless musical mind and hand.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.” That latter sentence could not be any truer, as the Chicago native and acclaimed producer was a force like no one has really ever seen before. His family released that statement earlier today and the news was previously confirmed by Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson. The multi-talented multi-media figure passed away in his Bel Air, California home with his loved ones by his side. He was 91.
Given his indelible and expansive impact in the world of music and entertainment, dozens of artists have been remembering Quincy Jones. LL COOL J, The Weeknd, Victoria Monet, Ice-T, and Darius Rucker are just a few to list off. Dr. Dre, one of the most influential names in his own right, spoke on Jones’ legacy in a moving Instagram tribute. In it, the West Coast icon expresses just how thankful and grateful he was to have met Mr. Jones and for all of the time they shared together.
“Quincy is the reason why I decided to become a record producer,” Dre begings. “His records were my go-to when I started engineering. All of the time that I spent hanging out with him was priceless and I love how open he was- the advice he gave me, the conversations we had have helped me in my life and career. Forever inspired by the incomparable Quincy Jones.” A few hip-hop giants were in his comments showing him love for the words spoken. “The incomparable Q,” DJ Premier added. “,” Ludacris responded.
What are your thoughts on Dr. Dre’s tribute to Quincy Jones? Is the latter the most influential producer ever? Is he the greatest? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Dr. Dre and Quincy Jones. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
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Quincy Jones has passed away at the age of 91. According to his publicist, Arnold Robinson, the music and entertainment icon died Sunday night at his Bel-Air home surrounded by his family.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” a statement from the family said. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Jones infused his genius into jazz, pop, film, and television, leaving an indelible mark on modern music and culture. Born in Chicago on March 14, 1933, Quincy Delight Jones Jr. rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most prolific and respected producers, composers, and arrangers in music history. As a young man, Jones attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston but left early to pursue his dreams. He began his career as a jazz trumpeter, working with legends like Dizzy Gillespie, before transitioning into arranging and conducting, which would become his true calling.
Jones was instrumental in crafting the sounds of numerous artists and producing some of the most influential albums of the 20th century. His work with Michael Jackson remains legendary, especially their collaborations on Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987), albums that redefined pop music and made Jackson a global superstar. Thriller became the best-selling album of all time, solidifying Jones’ reputation as a producer with an unparalleled ear for hits.
Beyond his work in pop, Jones was an accomplished film and television composer, scoring notable films such as The Color Purple (1985) and In the Heat of the Night (1967) and the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. His groundbreaking arrangements and compositions earned him 28 Grammy Awards from 80 nominations, making him one of the most decorated artists in Grammy history.
Jones was also a pioneering advocate for social change, using his platform to support civil rights and champion diversity in the entertainment industry. His influence transcended music; he was a mentor, a cultural ambassador, and a visionary who brought together artists from all walks of life. In 1993, he was awarded the Grammy Legend Award, a fitting tribute to his status as one of the most transformative figures in music.
Quincy Jones left behind a massive void in the music world, as he sadly passed away at the age of 91 on Sunday night (November 3), according to an Associated Press report. Per his publicist Arnold Robinson’s statement to the outlet, he passed in his Bel Air home while “surrounded by his family.” Speaking of which, they also issued a statement on this news. “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”
Moreover, this message comes amid a mountain of tributes and celebrations regarding the life of Quincy Jones. “You were a father and example at a time when I truly needed a father and example,” LL COOL J shared via Instagram. “Mentor. Role model. King. You gave me opportunities and shared wisdom. Music would not be music without you. My condolences to the entire family. I love you. Rest in the sweetest music eternally. #ripquincyjones one of one.”
“I woke up today to the Terrible news that we lost Quincy Jones..” Ice-T expressed on social media. “Genius is a discription loosely used but Rarely deserved. Point blank, Quincy was the MAN. I won my 1st Grammy with Quincy and I live with his Wisdom daily. My condolences go out to his family who I had the honor of meeting. This one Hit me. God bless you KING.” Other musicians like Tyler, The Creator, The Weeknd, Victoria Monét, Darius Rucker, and Flying Lotus also took to online spaces to share their heartfelt condolences and thoughts on one of the most legendary musicians and creatives of the modern era.
What’s more is that the Chicago native almost did so much more than what he already offered to the world, such as a curious story about his original theme for The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air. But the legacy and greatness he left behind is enough to fill countless careers, spanning from jazz arrangements with Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson’s best-ever material. Rest In Peace Quincy Jones.