Quincy Jones, legendary music producer, dies aged 91

Legendary musician Quincy Jones has died. He was 91.

Jones' publicist Arnold Robinson told the Associated Press that he died Sunday, Nov. 3, at his home in Los Angeles surrounded by his family.

“Tonight it is with full but broken hearts that we share the news of the passing of our father and brother Quincy Jones,” the family said in a statement, according to the AP. “And while this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life he led and know there will never be another like him.”

The musician leaves behind children: Rashida Jones, Kidada Jones, Kenya Kinski-Jones, Quincy Jones III, Jolie Jones Levine, Martina Jones and Rachel Jones. He is also survived by grandchildren: Isaiah Jones Koenig, Quincy Renzo Delight Jones IV and Nea Jones. He is godfather to actor and musician Quincy Brown, who was named after the music great.

With 28 wins, Jones is the artist with the second-most Grammy awards of all time – he has been nominated for a record 80 times since 1961. The music icon won three Grammys for Producer of the Year and received two Grammy Awards each for Album and Song of the Year.

He escaped death in 1974 when he was just 41 years old. The exceptional musician had a brain aneurysm and had to undergo brain surgery, but was soon informed that he had a second aneurysm that was about to explode. He was operated on again. At the time, he was told his chance of survival was one in a hundred.

At 14, Jones fled the quarters of his abusive stepmother – who he said didn't call him by his name until he was 57 – to join the National Guard, he revealed GQ in 2018. He lied and said he was 18 to join but was met with extreme racism. During that time, he and a group of friends were on their way to a rodeo in Yakima when they were struck by a trail bus. He says everyone in the car died except him – the scene was horrific and traumatized him. A few years later he tried to take driving lessons but “just couldn’t do it” and has never driven since.

Born on March 14, 1933, the Chicago native first became known as a trumpeter in bands for jazz greats such as Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie.

As a producer and arranger, Jones is partly behind the success of several music giants, including Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin and more. He is the producer of Jackson's legendary 1982 classic “Beat It.” Jones not only produced the hit, he also enlisted late music virtuoso Eddie Van Halen to play the track's now legendary guitar solo.

Jones' 1974 album Body heat peaked at number six billboard 200 chart. He has released 13 Hot 100 songs and a number of Top 20 albums.