Quincy Jones' legacy lives on in Seattle
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Quincy Jones talks about a music anthology at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago in 2001. Photo: Alex Garcia/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Legendary musician and producer Quincy Jones died Sunday at 91, leaving a legacy that spans cultural history and the global music industry and is still felt in Seattle today.
The big picture: Known for his trailblazing productions and multi-genre contributions, Jones — who spent much of his youth in Seattle — influenced music for over seven decades, from jazz to pop to film scores.
- He produced some of the most influential albums of all time, including Michael Jackson's Thriller, which remains a best-selling album worldwide.
- A versatile arranger and composer, Jones wrote scores for films like The Color Purple and produced hit records for Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, and countless others.
- His achievements earned him 28 Grammy Awards, 80 nominations, and a Grammy Legend Award.
Plus: He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, won two honorary Academy Awards, and was awarded an Emmy for "Roots," France's Legion d'Honneur, the Rudolph Valentino Award from the Republic of Italy and a Kennedy Center tribute for his contributions to American culture, per AP.
Flashback: While attending Garfield High School, he played trumpet alongside Ray Charles, marking the beginning of an iconic friendship.
What they're saying: "Jones often said, as did his Seattle childhood friend Ray Charles, that Seattle's musical openness allowed him to ignore cultural boundaries, to practice what the music business calls 'crossover,'" writes jazz journalist and historian Paul de Barros in The Seattle Times.
The bottom line: Jones spoke often about how Seattle's jazz scene and mentorship from older musicians inspired his sound, and he continued to support young musicians until his final years.
Fun fact: Jones was not the only highly accomplished member of his family.
- His brother, Richard A. Jones is a U.S. District Court judge who has presided over a number of high profile cases in his long career, including that of the state's most prolific serial killer, Gary Ridgway.