How Quincy Jones helped Michael Jackson, Oprah and Will Smith

What couldn't Quincy Jones do?

He wrote, composed and arranged music for your favorite artists and even produced films and television shows that spotlighted some of your favorite actors. Not only did he change his career, he also changed his life.

Here we highlight some of the biggest acts and projects Jones has worked on, starting with Michael Jackson's groundbreaking work thriller Album for “We Are the World” and won 28 Grammys, an Emmy and a Tony.

MICHAEL JACKSON

Before he met Jones while working The magicianJackson was known for the Jackson 5 and released four solo albums that met with moderate success. Then they did it Away from the wall and the King of Pop has arrived. Released in 1979 around the time Jackson turned 21, the album helped him evolve from a young singer into a critically acclaimed, mature artist. The album's disco, funk and R&B sound resonated on the charts, helping and paving the way for Jackson to win his first of 13 Grammys thrillerone of the best-selling and most respected albums of all time. thrillerwhich included classics like “Beat It” and “Billie Jean,” even set a record for the most Grammy wins in a single night (eight).

WE ARE THE WORLD

The idea of ​​Jackson, Tina Turner, Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross and Bob Dylan singing a song still sounds supernatural – and Jones made it a reality. “We Are the World” – the charity single he produced in 1985 to raise money for the Ethiopian famine – became a groundbreaking international anthem and one of the best-selling singles of all time. Written by Jackson and Lionel Richie, the song also featured Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Paul Simon and Willie Nelson and was given new life by the Emmy-nominated Netflix documentary earlier this year. The biggest night in pop.

WILL and OPRAH

Before The Oprah Winfrey Show When it was picked up nationally in 1986, Winfrey had great success The color purplethe first film Jones produced. Winfrey received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for her role as Sofia and says, “Working with Quincy changed everything for me.” He has a big, open heart and treats everyone like they are the most important person he knows “He was the first person I ever loved unconditionally.”

Will Smith had just won the first Grammy for Best Rap Performance, but over time everything changed The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airwhich Jones produced. The series ran from 1990 to 1996 and Smith frequently thanked Jones for the opportunity, calling the legend “the man who bet on me when I wasn't even betting on myself.”

THE BIG ONE

Jones and Ray Charles first met as young teenage musicians. Eventually, her club and wedding performances led to official chart-topping successes, including the No. 1 R&B and dance hit “I'll Be Good to You.” Jones composed, arranged and produced music alongside a number of greats including Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Miles David, Dinah Washington and Frank Sinatra.

THE RESULTS

Jones has scored nearly 40 films, starting with the 1964s The pawnbroker. His other credits include: The magician, The slim thread, Walk, don't run, Cold-blooded And In the heat of the night. He even worked on 2024 Lola. Some of the TV topics Jones helped capture Iron side, The Bill Cosby Show And Sanford and son.

Awards galore

Before becoming the most awarded artist in Grammy history, Beyoncé set a record by matching Jones' 28 wins in 2021. Jones received his first nomination at the 1961 show – the third annual Grammy Awards – and won his first award, for Best Instrumental Arrangement, in 1964. His other awards include Album of the Year for thriller And Back on the blockAlbum of the Year for “We Are the World” and “Beat It,” Best Cast Show Album for Lena Horne: The lady and her music and best large jazz ensemble for Walking in space. He was named Producer of the Year three times and shared the Best Music Film award for the Netflix documentary in 2019 with daughter Rashida Jones Quincythat she produced.

And although he never won a rival Oscar out of his seven nominations, he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and became the first black artist to receive a nomination for Best Original Song; It was for “The Eyes of Love” by Ban at the 1968 Academy Awards. He was also nominated for Best Original Score that year, becoming the first black man to be nominated twice in a single ceremony. And he was the first Black person to serve as musical director and conductor for the awards ceremony in 1971.

His work was published in 1977 roots earned him the Emmy for Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series (dramatic underscore). It won the 2016 Tony for Best Revival of a Musical The color purple.