Quincy Jones, a longtime music industry powerhouse and hit producer of multi-platinum albums including Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the best-selling album of all time, died Sunday. He was 91 years old.
His death was announced by his publicist, Arnold Robinson, who said Jones died at his home in Bel Air, California. Jones was surrounded by his family, including his children and siblings, at the time of his death, the release said.
Quincy Jones arrives at the 2018 Governors Awards in Hollywood, California on November 18, 2018.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
“And while this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the beautiful life he lived and know there will never be another like him,” the family said in a press release.
During his decades-long career, Jones was nominated for 80 Grammy Awards, of which he won 28. He was the most nominated songwriter and producer of all time, his publicist said Monday.
His career has often been punctuated with chart-topping hits, many of which have also been critical successes. He produced albums for Michael Jackson, including “Off the Wall,” “Bad” and “Thriller,” which ranks among the best-selling albums of all time.
Michael Jackson, left, holds eight awards as he poses with Quincy Jones at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, February 28, 1984.
Doug Pizac/AP
Jones was a veteran producer by the time “Thriller” was released in 1982. He had won his first Grammy in 1963 for an arrangement of Count Basie’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You.”
He then teamed up with Frank Sinatra for “Sinatra at the Sands,” an album that included “Fly Me to the Moon.” Jones’ publicist noted Monday that this version of the song was “the first recording played by astronaut Buzz Aldrin when he landed on the surface of the moon in 1969.”
He also produced and directed “We Are the World,” which brought together pop luminaries of all ages and became the best-selling single of all time.
Jones was often considered entertainment royalty – and it would be difficult to overstate the breadth of his career or the depth of his influence on popular culture. He had started his career as a composer and became a music producer. And he would eventually leave his mark on Hollywood.
Music producer Quincy Jones poses for a portrait to promote his documentary “Quincy” during the Toronto Film Festival on September 7, 2018, in Toronto.
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
He was a co-producer with Steven Spielberg on “The Color Purple,” a 1985 film starring Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg. This film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including two nominations for Jones’ original song and score.
He also served as executive producer of “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air,” the television series starring Will Smith that premiered in 1990. Jones also founded VIBE Magazine in 1991.
Jones’ family said Monday that Jones was “truly one of a kind,” adding that “we are comforted and extremely proud to know that the love and joy, which were the essence of his being, were shared with the world through all of this.” he created.”
They added: “Thanks to his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”
Jones had seven children with five women, three of whom he was married to. When asked in 2002 how he wanted to be remembered, he had a simple answer.
“Remember that? As a good dad,” Jones told the interviewer. “As a good father.”
ABC News’ Andrew Evans and Chris Donovan contributed to this report.
