Quincy Jones, the musical genius whose influence spanned over seven decades, has passed away at the age of 91. The groundbreaking artist, producer, composer, and arranger died Sunday night (November 3, 2024) at his home in Bel Air, Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.

In a heartfelt statement, the Jones family expressed both their grief and gratitude for the remarkable legacy he leaves behind. “Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” they said. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him. He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly; we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”

As news of Jones’ passing spread, tributes from across the globe poured in from music legends, industry giants, and celebrities. Oprah Winfrey shared a deeply personal message, remembering the late icon as “the world’s beloved Q,” adding, “My life changed forever for the better after meeting him.” Mariah Carey, who worked with Jones early in her career, took to Instagram to call him “a legend, a titan, a mentor.” Elton John, another artist deeply influenced by Jones’ work, shared his tribute on social media, reflecting on their musical history, writing that Jones “played with the best and he produced the best.”

The Weeknd also posted a photo with the late musical icon, attached with the caption: “The Reason. Thank you for everything, Mr. Quincy Jones.” His follow-up post emphasized the importance of Jones’ influence on his artistry, with snippets attached of The Weeknd’s written excerpt from the former’s autobiography “My fans know how important Quincy was to the fabric of my music. I was given the opportunity to write a foreword to his book and tried to capture what he meant to me as a human. Let’s celebrate his life today.” 

The Estate of Michael Jackson, with whom Jones collaborated to create Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, also honored him, saying, “It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of and celebrate the life and talent of the great Quincy Jones. Michael Jackson had tremendous admiration for Quincy’s spirit and vision. Together, they produced Michael’s three massive worldwide hit albums, enduring masterpieces of contemporary music… Quincy changed the course of popular music numerous times during his illustrious career, widening its horizons and bringing his take on jazz, R&B, and pop to the mainstream.”

Several other tributes came from musical figures like Clive Davis, Jamie Foxx, LL Cool J, Victoria Monét, John Legend, Lin Manuel Miranda, Isaac Hayes, Dr. Dre, Justin Timberlake, Will Smith, David Guetta, Amaarae, and Gloria Estefan, among many others.

A towering figure in the music industry, Jones’ influence reached far beyond any one genre. Throughout his career, he produced some of the most iconic records in history, including Michael Jackson’s Thriller — the biggest selling album of all time — and the charity anthem “We Are the World,” which he co-produced. Jones’ impressive résumé also includes collaborations with legends like Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Count Basie, Miles Davis, and Lesley Gore. His work in jazz, pop, R&B, and even film scoring helped shape the soundtrack of the 20th century.

In addition to his remarkable discography, Jones received countless accolades, including 28 Grammy Awards and an honorary Oscar in 2024. His groundbreaking work on “We Are the World” earned him the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, while his influence was further solidified with the Grammy Legend Award in 1991.