Quincy Jones

He was awarded the 2010 National Medal of Arts for his contributions to American music as a musician, composer, record producer, and arranger. He was an inventor of musical hybrids, he has mixed pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African, and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performances, movies, and television.

He will be awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for his services to music. [May 2005]

He received the John F. Kennedy Center Honors in 2001.

Chosen by People (USA) magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. [1996]

Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1994.

(1991-1997) Lived with Nastassja Kinski. One daughter, Kenya Kinski-Jones (Kenya Julia Miambi Sarah Jones) (b. February 9, 1993).

His production company, partnered with former news executive David Salzman, also produces Jenny Jones (1991) and MADtv (1995).

Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1988.

Jones continued working with Jackson with his Bad album in 1987. However after Jones recommended Jackson seek other producers to update his music. Jones referred Jackson to producer, Teddy Riley. This ended a partnership between two-greats, Jackson and Jones would never collaborate again.

In 1985 Jones scored the film adaptation of The Color Purple.

Jones also was a philanthropist, in 1985 gathering multiple stars to participate in the song We Are The World to help raise money to help the victims of the Ethopian disaster.

In 1982 as a result of this partnership, Jones had formed a tapestry with Jackson which was unbreakable it was called, Thriller. The Thriller album sold more than 100 million records world-wide.

In 1981 Jones had an album called, The Dude.

Quincy Jones in 1978 worked on music for the Wiz, this is where he met icon, Michael Jackson. Jackson at the time was looking for a producer, Jones recommended some producers but in the end asked Jackson if he could do it, Jackson said yes.

Father, with Peggy Lipton, of actresses Kidada Jones (born 1974) and Rashida Jones (born 1976).

In 1972 Quincy Jones was the theme song composer for the hit-sitcom, Sanford And Son.

Suffered a brain aneurysm in the 1970s. As a result, he can no longer play the trumpet; doing so could dislodge the chip in his brain.

In 1964, by the request of director Sidney Lumet, Jones composed the music for his movie, The Pawnbroker. This would be the first of many Jones composed for film scores.

In 1963, Quincy Jones won his first Grammy award for his Count Basie arrangement of "I Can't Stop Loving You".

By the mid-1960's Quincy Jones became the conductor and arranger for Frank Sinatra's orchestra. Jones also conducted and arranged one of Sinatra's most memorable songs, Fly Me To The Moon. Jones appeared on a lot of film credits for his music such as The Slender Thread, Walk, Don't Run, In Cold Blood, In The Heat Of The Night, A Dandy In Aspic, Mackenna's Gold, and The Italian Job.

Jones also worked for the European production of Harold Arlen's blues opera, Free and Easy in 1959. After Jones had worked on several projects overseas he returned to New York where he composed and arranged, and recorded for artists such as Duke Ellington, Ray Charles, Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Dinah Washington, LeVern Baker, and Big Maybell. Jones was working with these artists while holding an executive position at Mercury Records, being one of the very few African Americans at the time to have such a position.

In 1951, Quincy Jones had won a scholarship to the Berklee College Of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Jones however dropped out when he got the opportunity to tour with Lionel Hampton's band as a trumpeter and conductor.

Considered to be one of the greatest minds in music and television history, Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. was born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois. He is the son of Sarah Frances (Wells), a bank executive, and Quincy Delight Jones, Sr. , a carpenter. Jones found his love for music while he was enrolled in grade school at Seattle's Garfield High School, this is also where he had met Ray Charles whom he later worked and became friends with.