FILE - Music producer Quincy Jones poses for a portrait to promote his documentary "Quincy" during the Toronto Film Festival on Sept. 7, 2018, in Toronto. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
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Quincy Jones was born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago. With an impressive tally of 28 Grammy Awards, Jones rose to prominence in the 1950s as a trumpeter in Lionel Hampton’s band.
His career saw collaborations with music luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and Ella Fitzgerald. As a producer, Jones played a pivotal role in shaping the monumental albums of Michael Jackson, including Off the Wall, Bad, and Thriller, each standing as some of the best-selling records in history.
Composer Quincy Jones at his home studio in October 1974 writing music, listening to a recording on his headphones. (AP Photo/George Brich)Quincy Jones, a founding member of the Institute for Black American Music and winner of Five Grammy Awards, adjusts his cap on Sunday, May 24, 1992 at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., before the university started its 41st commencement exercises where he received a Doctor of Music degree. (AP Photo/Paula Scully)Oprah Winfrey, right, leads Quincy Jones, left, on the stage after speaking to induct him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Nokia Theatre on Thursday, April 18, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP)President Barack Obama presents a 2010 National Medal of Arts to musician and record producer Quincy Jones, Wednesday, March 2, 2011, during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Beyond his musical achievements, Jones’s influence extends into film and television, where he has made significant contributions as a composer and producer.
Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC.
