obit
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Voletta Wallace, the mother of the late Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace, has died. According to still-developing reports, Voletta Wallace passed from natural causes.
TMZ was the first to report the news of Voletta Wallace’s passing, noting that the retired schoolteacher passed away in Stroudsburg, Penn. The outlet adds that Wallace was in hospice care in the Pennsylvania town according to Monroe County Coroner Thomas Yanac.
Wallace, a native of Jamaica, moved to Brooklyn N.Y. where she and George Latore welcomed their son, Christopher, who would later become known as rapper Biggie Smalls before taking on The Notorious B.I.G. stage name for legal purposes. Wallace raised her son as a single mom while working in education, and as Biggie’s star rose, she was a major fixture in his life.
After the tragic loss of her son, Wallace continued to uphold the legacy of The Notorious B.I.G. and oversaw his estate, including making certain that his daughter, T’yanna Wallace, and son, C.J. Wallace were taken care of. She also released the book Biggie: Voletta Wallace Remembers Her Son, Christopher Wallace, aka Notorious B.I.G in 2005.
Via her Instagram page, several images of her and her son adorn the pages along with a consistent celebration of Biggie’s achievements in the industry and how his name still lives on in the minds of many. Online, fans are showing their respect and mourning the loss.
Rest in peace to Voletta Wallace.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Chelsea Reject, a talented rapper out of New York who has worked alongside several underground acts such as the sprawling Beast Coast collective and others, has died. A GoFundMe for Chelsea Reject has been established by her partner to help with the costs of funeral services.
Chelsea Reject, real name Chelsea Alexander, as seen in The Express Tribune, worked alongside the likes of Mick Jenkins, Kota The Friend, Dirty Sanchez 47 of the Pro Era collective, CJ Fly, also of Pro Era fame, Joey BadA$$, AKTHESAVIOR of The Underachievers, and Raz Fresco among other underground notables.
Hip-Hop Wired has featured the Brooklyn native’s music in our CRT FRSH (Certified Fresh) playlist music roundup in times past. Reject’s last recorded project, Rogue alongside former Pro Era member T’Nah, was released in August of 2024. She also featured on Mahogany Jones’ “GO (Ma$terPiece Remix 2)” last year.
T’Nah shared a loving post in honor of CR via Instagram that we’ll share below in the gallery:
Haha we were so enthused and ready and everything was gonna change this year. She was my battery pack – we were JUST about to get back in the gym next this week. She would love that some of yall been in the gym on her behalf. Keep going. It’ll help.
Gon be so hard. To muster up the energy without you Chelsea. But yea. Not gonna take anything you taught me for granted!!!!
As seen in the Tribute piece, CR’s partner, Brian Harris, established a GoFundMe that, of this writing, has raised over 85% of its $15,000 goal.
To show your support for Chelsea Reject’s family, please follow this link. Keep scrolling to see some of CR’s past collaborators and recording partners share their condolences.
May Chelsea Reject rest powerfully in peace.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: John W. Ferguson / Getty
Barry Michael Cooper, a writer who penned the screenplay for New Jack City and reportedly coined the phrase “New Jack Swing,” has died. Barry Michael Cooper’s other works include writings in The Village Voice and lent his abilities to other notable films etched in the lore of Black cinema.
According to a report from TMZ, Barry Michael Cooper passed away this past Tuesday (Jan. 21) in his adopted city of Baltimore, Md., where Cooper resided after penning screenplays for New Jack City, Sugar Hill, and Above The Rim, the “Harlem Trilogy” as the trio of films are sometimes called.
Prior to his screenwriting success in the 1990s, Cooper was a music critic for The Village Voice between 1980 and 1989. He also penned the piece “Teddy Riley’s New Jack Swing: Harlem Gangsters Raise A Genius,” with some giving him credit for naming the music style of New Jack Swing that Riley innovated as a producer and member of the R&B trio Guy.
Writer Nelson George penned a short but moving obituary piece for Cooper via his Substack site and highlighted the pair’s longtime connection and Cooper’s allegiance to Harlem despite relocating to Baltimore years ago.
From The Nelson George Mixtape:
Barry Michael Cooper died today in Baltimore, according to his son Mathew. It’ll take me a minute to gather all my thoughts, but just wanted to thank him for recommending to Robert Christgau at the Village Voice when I was trying to write for the Riffs section back in 1981. It was a key moment in my career and life. Barry helped define pop culture in the ‘80s and ‘90s with his early reporting on crack, by naming Teddy Riley’s sound “new jack swing,” and writing star vehicles for Wesley Snipes (New Jack City, Sugar Hill) and Tupac (Above the Rim.) Though he lived much of the last decades of his life in Baltimore, he was Harlem to his core.
Barry Michael Cooper was 66.
—
Photo:
HipHopWired Featured Video
Sam Moore, who found fame as part of the Sam & Dave duo that delivered the “Soul Man” hit, has died. According to Sam Moore’s publicist, the singer passed away last Friday after complications surrounding a recent surgery procedure.
Sam Moore was born Samuel David Hicks on October 12, 1935, in Miami, Fla. After his mother married his stepfather, Charlie Moore, he took the surname. Moore began singing in church choirs as a young man and joined doo-wop groups but gospel music was where he was a notable force. Moore would be discovered alongside his future Sam & Dave partner and fellow gospel singer, the late Dave Prather, in 1961 at Miami’s King Of Hearts Club and subsequently signing with Roulette Records, a label with reported New York mob ties and was home to acts such as Pearl Bailey and Frankie Lymon among others.
As was customary during this time, Sam & Dave signed with Atlantic Records in 1964 and were contracted out to Stax Records to construct and release records. The fruitful union spawned hits such as “Hold On! I’m Comin’,” “I Thank You,” and perhaps the duo’s best-known hit, “Soul Man” which was written by Isaac Hayes and David Porter. Booker T. & The M.G.’s, which provided backing instrumentation for several Sam & Dave tracks, was also on hand for the hit.
England’s The Times revealed in their obituary that Moore broke personal ties with his partner after Prather shot his wife in 1968. The pair would continue to perform together but officially split ways for good in 1981. The Times also notes that Moore fathered several children with multiple women and worked as a pimp and conman, some of which was mentioned in an autobiography, For the Record 3: Sam and Dave by Dave Marsh.
After kicking a heroin addiction, Moore would see a late-career resurgence, even re-recording “Soul Man” alongside Lou Reed for the 1986 film of the same name. He remained an active touring and recording musician up until 2022, joining Bruce Springsteen on the New Jersey rocker’s R&B and soul cover album, Only The Strong Survive.
As mentioned at the top of the article, Moore passed after complications from surgery in Coral Gables, Fla. but details are scant beyond that. It isn’t known the exact number of children and no obituaries that we’ve seen gave an accurate number.
Sam Moore was 89.
[h/t Associated Press]
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Richard Parsons, a Black executive lauded for his efforts leading Time Warner and Citigroup, died on Thursday (Dec. 26) at the age of 76. Richard Parsons navigated deals such as splitting one-time Internet giant AOL from Time Warner and other notable moves.
Richard Parsons, who also went by the shortened version of his name Dick, was born on April 4, 1948, in New York and was raised in the South Ozone Park in Queens. Raised by parents of middle-class means, Parsons was an exceptional student in grade school ahead of attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa on a basketball scholarship. Returning to the mainland, Parsons entered Albany Law School of Union University, New York, and earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1971.
Parsons’ legal career began after he was invited to work for New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, who was later appointed as Vice President of the United States by President Gerald Ford. Parsons traveled to Washington to work alongside Rockefeller in 1974, crossing paths with fellow lawyer Rudolph Giuliani during this stretch. From 1977 to 1988, Parsons worked for the Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler law firm and was made partner.
In 1991, Parsons was asked to join Time Warner’s board and later became its president in 1995. Parsons oversaw Time Warner’s merger with AOL in 2000, but the partnership did not create the financial windfall some expected. After Time Warner Chief Executive Gerald Levin retired in 2001, Parsons stepped in to take Levin’s place. Under Parson’s leadership, Time Warner successfully split from AOL by removing the name association with the company and lowering the company’s $30 billion debt to $16.8 billion after selling Warner Music and portions of the wider business.
After stepping down in 2007 from Time Warner, two years later Parsons became the chairman of Citigroup, using his management and business oversight skills to help the banking company after it was hit by the financial crisis. In 2014, Parsons worked as the interim CEO for the Los Angeles Clippers after the NBA banned owner Donald Sterling for life for his racist remarks. Parsons, a Republican Party voter, did not involve himself with racial politics and famously downplayed race in interviews electing to focus on other aspects of himself.
In 2015, Parsons was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and officially retired in 2018 due to health concerns. Parsons passed away at his Manhattan home according to reports. His death was confirmed by Lazard, where he was a board member.
Richard Parsons is survived by his wife, Laura, and their three children.
[h/t CNBC]
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Art Evans, a veteran actor who broke into the film business in the 1970s and starred in Die Hard 2, passed away last weekend at the age of 82. A California native, Art Evans starred in a diverse slate of films, including CB4, Metro, and The Mighty Quinn.
Art Evans was born on March 27, 1942, in Berkeley, Calif., and began his acting career in the 1960s in Los Angeles as a stage actor. One of Evans’ first major roles was in Christine, directed by John Carpenter and based on a novel by Stephen King. He also starred in A Solider’s Story starring Denzel Washington, Howard E. Rollings Jr., and David Allen Grier, among others. In 1990, Evans landed the role of Leslie Barnes, the Dulles International Airport engineer who helped Bruce Willis’ John McClane avert a terrorist attack.
Evans also had significant roles on television on shows such as The X-Files, Monk, Family Matters, and M*A*S*H. He also had a role in A Different World as the father of Ron Johnson (Darryl M. Bell).
Evans’ last credited role from IMDB was a voice role on The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder television series in 2022.
As seen on Variety, the family of Evans shared a statement that read, “We are heartbroken to share that Art has passed away. Please respect our privacy at this time. A memorial will be held for friends and family to attend at a later date. Thank you.”
Art Evans is survived by his wife, Babe Evans, and their son Ogadae Evans.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Nikki Giovanni, the famed poet, activist, and educator, died on Monday (Dec. 9). As the news of Nikki Giovanni’s death began to spread online, many are remembering the celebrated scribe and her weight contributions to culture.
Nikki Giovanni was born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni Jr. in Knoxville, Tenn. on June 7, 1943. Raised primarily in Ohio, Giovanni was referred to as “Nikki” by her sister, and the nickname stuck. In 1960, Giovanni attended Fisk University in Nashville. In 1967, Giovanni graduated with a B.A. degree in History.
Shortly after, Giovanni was inspired to write after the passing of her grandmother and these writings would later form the basis of her poetry collection, Black Feelings, Black Talk. After briefly attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work and Columbia University School of the Arts, Giovanni began teaching in 1969 at Rutgers University.
Giovanni was one of the prominent names within the Black Arts Movement, later releasing a series of books and spoken world albums in addition to her teaching duties from the 1970s through the 1980s. During the late ’80s, Giovanni began teaching writing and literature at Virginia Tech from 1987 to 2022 and in that time she received 20 honorary doctorates and dozens of awards for her work and service to the community. Among the honorifics, Giovanni was made an Honorary Member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.
Giovanni is survived by her wife Virginia Fowler, son Thomas Giovanni, granddaughter Kai Giovanni, and a host of other close relatives.
Nikki Giovani was 81. May she rest powerfully in peace.
[h/t WDBJ]
Learn more about Giovanni’s life and work here.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Saafir, a talented rapper who was a standout lyricist in the 1990s, was an influential component of the sprawling West Coast underground scene that boosted the likes of the Hieroglyphics and more. According to one of Saafir’s close allies in music, the “Light Sleeper” rapper died on Tuesday morning after reports of him battling health issues surfaced years ago.
On Tuesday (November 19), Xzibit shared a photo of Saafir, who also went by the name of Shaft Yella, with a caption that revealed that the rapper had passed away.
From IG:
I can’t believe I’m writing this right now, but don’t know what else to do at the moment. Approximately at 8:45am this morning, my brother Reggie known to the world as Saafir passed away. We have so much history I can’t even explain what I’m feeling right now. We surrounded him and let him know how much we loved him. He can rest now.
Friends, Family, everyone that rocked with us from the Hip Hop community, if you could be so solid and reach out for @chopblack his younger brother, and @lilsaafir his son, the family really needs to be supported during this time. That’s all I have right now. My soul is crushed.
We love you Bro.
REST IN POWER
Saafir The Saucee Nomad.
Saafir, real name Reggie Gibson, burst onto the scene with his debut album, Boxcar Sessions, which was released via the late Quincy Jones’ Qwest recording label in conjunction with Reprise and Warner Bros Records. Later in life, Saafir converted to Islam and when we have his full righteous name, we will update this post.
The Saucee Nomad famously battled members of the aforementioned Hieroglyphics by himself in a classic radio battle on KMEL’s Wake Up Show with Sway Calloway and DJ King Tech that became the stuff of legend in underground circles. Gibson also worked as an actor, making his debut on film in 1993’s Menace II Society as Cousin Harold.
Along with his solo career, Gibson was a member of the Hobo Junction, a collective of rappers and producers that featured prominently on his debut album. He was also a member of the Golden State Warriors supergroup with Xzibit and Ras Kass.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans of Saafir are joined in mourning the Oakland visionary. We’ve got reactions below. We will update this post with new details and a playlist of songs.
—
Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Quincy Jones, a legendary record producer and songwriter who worked with several musical greats, died over the weekend in his California home. The enormity of the loss of Quincy Jones is on full display on social media, most especially the X social media platform.
Quincy Jones was born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Ill. Music became a part of Jones’ life at a young age under the guidance of his mother and a next-door neighbor. The idea of becoming a professional bloomed when Jones was a teenager, crossing paths with a blind pianist and singer by the name of Ray Charles who was just a couple of years his senior.
In the early 1950s, Jones, who was a trumpet player early on, studied for a short while at the Schillinger House facility, now known today as the Berklee College of Music. At the age of 20 in 1953, Jones hit the road as a trumpeter and arranger for Lionel Hampton. This opened doors for Jones to become an arranger for Dinah Washington, Clifford Brown, Cannonball Adderley, Count Basie, and others. In 1956, Jones joined Dizzy Gillespie’s band as a trumpeter and became its musical director. In that same year, Jones released his first album as a band leader.
Jones’ ear for music and talents as an arranger created a pathway for him to join Mercury Records as its A&R director and in 1964, he was named a vice president at the label, becoming one of the top Black executives in music at the time. Jones would continue to work as an arranger for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Billy Eckstine and moved into composing music for the film industry.
After suffering a brain aneurysm, Jones briefly stepped away from the music industry but returned and found himself drawn to producing pop records. Jones created his record label, Qwest, in 1980. He would also become a film producer in 1985, helping bring The Color Purple to life along with creating the score for the award-winning film.
Source: David Hume Kennerly / Getty
Among Jones’ several achievements, his work with the late Michael Jackson remains notable to this day. Jones was the producer of Jackson’s Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad which all were massive successes and added to the legacy of both Jones and Jackson alike. During this time, Jones also produced the star-studded fundraising “We Are The World” single. Jones also dabbled in bringing television shows to fruition, serving as a producer for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 1993, Jones founded Vibe magazine and owned the publication until 2006.
Source: William Nation / Getty
Jones has been awarded several honors, including the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama in 2011, the Ahmet Ertegun Award in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Tony Award, seven Oscar nominations, the Los Angeles Press Club Visionary Award in 2014 to count just a handful of his accolades.
Source: Bettmann / Getty
In the Hip-Hop sphere, tracks that Jones produced have been the sonic backdrop to acts such as De La Soul, Nas, 2Pac, The Pharcyde, Mobb Deep, LL COOL J, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, Kendrick Lamar, and more. Jones also embraced Hip-Hop as a producer, working with Big Daddy Kane and Kool Moe Dee on his Back On The Black album in 1989, and Kid Capri, LL COOL J, Funkmaster Flex, Heavy D, and more on Q’s Jook Joint in 1995.
Quincy Jones is survived by seven children: Rashida Jones, Kidada Jones, Kenya Kinski-Jones, Quincy Jones III, Jolie Jones Levine, Martina Jones, and Rachel Jones. Jones is also survived by his grandchildren. Isaiah Jones Koenig, Quincy Renzo Delight Jones IV, and Nea Jones.
On X, the passing of Jones is the number one trending topic and we’ve got the reactions listed down below.
Quincy Jones was 91.
—
Photo:
Quincy Jones, the musical giant whose six-decade, barrier-breaking career encompassed many creative personas—musician, songwriter, producer, conductor, arranger, artist, record label owner and executive, TV/film producer, magazine publisher and humanitarian—has died. He was 91.
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
According to Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson, the 27-time Grammy Award winner (out of a record 79 nominations) and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer died on Sunday night (Nov. 3) at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family said in a statement. “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.”
Among the survivors are his seven children, including actress Rashida Jones.
“Quincy Jones is the ultimate music renaissance man,” fellow music legend Clive Davis told Billboard in 2013. “Quincy is ever young, ever vital, with an imagination as large as the biggest heart in the world.”
In a monumental career spanning more than 60 years, Jones collaborated with a host of musical luminaries ranging from mentors Count Basie and Clark Terry to Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. Among a cross-section of his storied accomplishments: Jones produced Jackson’s best-selling albums Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad; obtained the rights to the novel The Color Purple and cast a young Oprah Winfrey in Steven Spielberg’s 1985 Oscar-nominated film adaptation; and helmed the historic recording sessions for the 1985 all-star charity single and Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 “We Are the World.” Taking the A&R helm at Mercury Records in 1961, Jones became the first African-American to serve as a VP at a major label. That affiliation resulted in his producing several hits for Lesley Gore, beginning with her 1963 pop debut “It’s My Party.”
Jones broke the color barrier again as the first black composer to receive name recognition for his film work. The first theatrical feature that Jones scored was Sidney Lumet’s The Pawnbroker in 1964. With the support of Lumet and other industry allies like Henry Mancini and Sidney Poitier, Jones composed the music for two landmark films released in 1967: best picture Oscar winner In the Heat of the Night and In Cold Blood, based on the Truman Capote bestseller.
Segueing into television, Jones wrote the memorable theme songs for such series as The Bill Cosby Show, Ironside and Sanford and Son. He also executive produced The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, starring rapper and fledgling actor Will Smith, and In the House, starring LL Cool J.
“Quit” was a foreign word to Jones, who survived two brain aneurysms in 1974. After the first, he wrote in his 2008 book, The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions: Photos, Letters, Memories & More from Q’s Personal Collection, “It didn’t look like I’d make it, so my friends planned a memorial service. … They had the concert anyway.” With his neurologist at his side, he attended the service at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles as Richard Pryor, Marvin Gaye, Sarah Vaughan and Sidney Poitier paid tribute to his great talent and legacy.
Looking back on his career on the occasion of his 80th birthday, Jones told Billboard, “I feel fortunate to have been born at a time where I was able to work with every person who shaped the history of American culture. It’s God’s plan, and you just have to open your heart and embrace every part of it.”
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. was born in Chicago on March 14, 1933, to parents Quincy Delight Jones Sr. and Sarah Frances Jones, and was raised with his only full-blood brother, Lloyd. His mother worked in a bank before being admitted to a mental institution for schizophrenia when Quincy was just a youngster; his father was a carpenter who played semi-pro baseball.
Quincy Sr. divorced Sarah shortly after she was institutionalized and remarried a woman named Elvera, who had three children. They then had three more of their own, for an eight-sibling family.
“We were in the heart of the largest black ghetto in Chicago during the Depression,” Jones recalled in an interview for the Academy of Achievement, “and every block was the spawning ground for every gangster, black and white, in America too. So we were around all of that.”
In 1943, his father uprooted the family to move to Bremerton, Wash., and then to Seattle, where Quincy Jr. attended Garfield High School and ignited his passion for music by studying composition and learning to play the trumpet. When just a teenager, Jones met a 16-year-old Ray Charles—a meeting captured in the 2004 Jamie Foxx–starring biopic Ray—who became a huge inspiration, teacher and friend. They would later work together on numerous musical projects.
While attending Seattle University, Jones played in the college band and continued to study music, but completed just one semester before transferring to Boston’s Berklee College of Music on a scholarship. He ultimately left Berklee to tour with Lionel Hampton as a trumpeter, before establishing himself as an arranger for some of the era’s leading talents, including Charles, Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Duke Ellington and Gene Krupa.
As a solo artist, Jones signed with ABC Paramount Records in 1956 and moved to Paris a year later, when he became the musical director for Mercury Records’ French distributor Barclay Records. In addition to studying composition with Nadia Boulanger, he toured throughout Europe working as musical director for composer Harold Arlen’s Free and Easy touring show. He also formed a band called The Jones Boys that was comprised of jazz artists from that show. They got great reviews, but money was scarce.
“We had the best jazz band on the planet, and yet we were literally starving,” he told Musician magazine. “That’s when I discovered that there was music and there was the music business. If I were to survive, I would have to learn the difference between the two.”
Jones began working with Frank Sinatra in 1958 when they collaborated on a benefit show for which Jones did the arrangements. Sinatra—who nicknamed Jones “Q”—later hired him to arrange his 1964 album It Might as Well Be Swing with the Count Basie Orchestra. His first Grammy win was in 1964 for best arrangement on the Count Basie Orchestra’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” Jones next worked on the 1966 live set Sinatra at the Sands, which contained his famous arrangement of “Fly Me to the Moon” (the first recording played by astronaut Buzz Aldrin when he landed on the moon in 1969). Sinatra and Jones also worked together on various TV shows and other recordings, resulting in subsequent arranging gigs for other artists like Billy Eckstine and Peggy Lee.
“There was no gray to the man. It was either black or white,” Jones said of Sinatra in 2001’s Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones. “If he loved you, there was nothing in the world he wouldn’t do for you. If he didn’t like you, shame on your ass. I know he loved me too. In all the years working together, we never once had a contract—just a handshake.”
Irving Green, president and founder of Mercury Records, helped Jones secure a music director position at the label, and by 1964, he’d advanced to VP, becoming the first African-American to achieve that post at a major label. During his Mercury tenure, Jones moonlighted as a film composer, scoring the critically acclaimed Pawnbroker for Lumet, which led to his leaving Mercury and relocating to Los Angeles to pursue more film work.
In 1965, he composed the score for Sydney Pollack’s first film, The Slender Thread, starring Poitier. Jones went on to score more than 35 movies, including Walk, Don’t Run (1966), Carl Reiner’s Enter Laughing (1967), Paul Mazursky’s Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (1969), The Italian Job (1969), Cactus Flower (1969), They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and The Getaway (1972).
In 1968, Jones became the first African-American to receive two Oscar nominations in the same year. He and songwriting partner Bob Russell (they were the first African-Americans to be nominated for best original song) were honored for “The Eyes of Love” from the Robert Wagner romantic drama Banning, and his original score for In Cold Blood was nominated as well. Jones’ total of six Academy Award nominations include best picture, original score and original song for 1985’s The Color Purple, which received 11 Academy Award nods overall.
In 1971 Jones became the first African-American to be named musical director and conductor for the Oscars; he later served as executive producer for the Academy Awards in 1996. His acceptance of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995 marked another first for an African-American. With seven Oscar nods, he tied with sound designer Willie D. Burton as the African-American with the most nominations.
Along the way, Jones’ spate of solo albums also brought the multi-faceted talent critical and popular acclaim, beginning with 1969’s Walking in Space and including Gula Matari, Smackwater Jack, You’ve Got It Bad Girl, Body Heat, Mellow Madness, I Heard That!, Sounds … And Stuff Like That!, The Dude and Back on the Block. As a songwriter, his vast catalog has been sampled by such artists as the late Tupac Shakur and Kanye West. One of Jones’ most-licensed tracks is 1962’s “Soul Bossa Nova.” The lively track was used for the 1998 World Cup in France, Woody Allen’s Take the Money and Run (1969), the Austin Powers movies and on television’s Glee.
In 1975, Jones founded Qwest Productions, for which he arranged and produced albums by Sinatra and other major pop stars. He produced the soundtrack for The Wiz (1978), starring Jackson and Diana Ross. Soon thereafter, he and the future King of Pop recorded a series of game-changing albums that includes the top-selling Thriller.
Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards in 1984.
Chris Walter/WireImage
“I think it’s safe to say that what we—Michael Jackson, me, Rod Temperton, Bruce Swedien, Jerry Hey, Greg Phillinganes and my entire studio A-Team—did with Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad will never be matched,” Jones told Billboard in 2013. “It was the perfect convergence of talent, experience and timing, with enough space for God to walk through the room.”
Establishing Qwest Records in 1980 as a joint venture with Warner Music Group, Jones oversaw an eclectic group of artist, including Sinatra, British post-punk band New Order, Joy Division, James Ingram, Tevin Campbell, Andraé Crouch, Patti Austin, Siedah Garrett, Gregory Jefferson and Justin Warfield.
Beyond entertainment, social activism played an important role throughout Jones’ life. He supported Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, worked with Jesse Jackson’s P.U.S.H. movement, and teamed with Bono on a number of humanitarian projects. He founded an organization called The Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation, dedicated to building homes in Africa and empowering youth via educational programs in music and culture.
Turning his attention to famine relief in 1985, Jones gathered together a diverse lineup of music superstars inside A&M Studios in L.A., leading the recording session for “We Are the World”—famously directing the assembled artists to “check your ego at the door.” The Grammy Award-winning USA for Africa benefit single raised more than $63 million for Ethiopian famine relief.
In 1990, he formed Quincy Jones Entertainment in a co-venture with Time Warner. QJE produced the NBC sitcom Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which put rapper Smith on the map as an actor, as well as UPN’s In the House and Fox’s Mad TV, among others. In 1993, he co-founded QDE, Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment. In addition to producing films, TV shows and educational entertainment, QDE published two magazines, VIBE and Spin.
Beyond his 27 Grammy Awards, Jones’ numerous accolades include the Grammy Living Legend and Trustees awards and France’s highest honor: Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, Jones had most recently produced the 2014 documentary Keep on Keepin’ On, about jazz trumpeter Clark Terry and his mentorship of blind piano prodigy Justin Kauflin.
In his later years, Jones continued to stay busy discovering and nurturing next-generation artists including Kauflin, Nikki Yanofsky, Emily Bear and Alfredo Rodriguez. He performed in the World Peace Concert in Hiroshima, Japan in 2013, launched such ventures as Dubai Music Week through his Global Gumbo group of international artists, created the musical app Playground Sessions and partnered on branded merchandise from headphones (Harman) to watches (Audemars-Piguet). In 2013, he filed a $10 million lawsuit against MJJ Productions, controlled by the Michael Jackson Estate, and Sony Entertainment, alleging that he was shorted royalties from posthumous releases. The presiding judge ruled in February 2016 that the case would proceed to trial on June 15.
In the final chapter of his impactful career, Jones announced in 2023 a major restructuring of Quincy Jones Productions, ultimately closing its artist management division. The decision marked a shift toward prioritizing creative endeavors in music, film, and technology. While stepping away from artist management, Jones remained committed to mentoring young talent, celebrating the successes of Grammy winners like Jacob Collier and Jon Batiste, and expressing gratitude for the contributions of outgoing division president Adam Fell. Even with these changes, Jones continued to support the next generation of artists until his passing.
Quincy Jones Productions had been focused on a dynamic slate of projects across various media. Among them were film, television, and stage ventures, including a musical adaptation of The Color Purple and a Broadway show on the history of Black music. Jones also held influential partnerships, such as his Q-Line audio products with Harman International and Qwest TV, a streaming platform centered on jazz.
Last year, Jones also celebrated his 90th birthday with a star-studded two-night tribute at the Hollywood Bow,). The celebration, led by his goddaughter Patti Austin and featuring performances from Stevie Wonder and rising jazz star Samara Joy, captured Jones’ six-decade career and legacy as an artist, producer, arranger, and conductor. From soulful renditions of Jones’ classics to tributes from his longtime collaborators, the event underscored the profound impact he had on generations of musicians.
Performers, backed by core members of Jones’ house band and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, brought Jones’ iconic work to life, including collaborations with Michael Jackson, highlighted by renditions of “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’,” “P.Y.T.,” and “Man in the Mirror.” With powerhouse performances like Jennifer Hudson’s take on “You Don’t Own Me,” Jones’ contributions as a trailblazer in breaking racial barriers in the industry were also honored.
The evening closed with Wonder leading the ensemble in “Happy Birthday,” a fitting tribute to a man whose work brought people together.
Jones was married to high-school sweetheart Jeri Caldwell from 1957-66, to actress Ulla Andersson from 1967-74 and to actress Peggy Lipton of TV’s The Mod Squad (Rashida’s mom) from 1974-90. He is survived by seven children, including one child apiece with dancer Carol Reynolds and actress Nastassja Kinski.
Additional reporting by Gail Mitchell.