Legendary music producer, composer, arranger, and songwriter Quincy Jones has died. He was 91.
Mr. Jones was one of the most prolific musicians in American history. Beginning his career in 1953 alongside jazz bandleader Lionel Hampton, Mr. Jones' extensive career stretched out over seven decades, bringing him 80 Grammy nominations, of which he received 28, making him the most awarded producer in Grammy history.
In the theatrical realm, Mr. Jones was a driving force behind the 1978 film adaptation of The Wiz, for which he arranged the entire score and penned new songs "Can I Go On?" and "Is This What Feeling Gets? (Dorothy's Theme)" for Diana Ross's Dorothy. Mr. Jones also makes a cameo appearance in the film, as the pianist in the Emerald City sequence.
On Broadway, Mr. Jones produced both the 2006 and 2016 productions of The Color Purple, after producing and composing the score of the property's 1985 film version. Mr. Jones would return to produce the title's 2023 movie musical, as well, which added his song "Miss Celie's Blues" from the 1985 film to the songlist. He is depicted as a character within MJ the Musical, and songs he originally produced have been interpolated into a wide array of musicals, including The Marvelous Wonderettes, Come Fly Away, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, and more.
He is survived by his daughters, Rashida and Kidada.