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Did you know that Jones and his friends had a naughty moment where they were robbing a certain place? Yet, it is this very place – a room nearby a canteen, which had a piano in it that led him to pursue music. So, his journey into music surely wasn’t straightforward, yet hints of music dropped at him at the most unlikely venues.  One touch of that piano, and it’s like Jones knew that music was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life.  

In March 2023, Michael Kantor actually wrote an article in which he wished Quincy Jones Happy Birthday, in conjunction with his 90th. Kantor later quipped, wishing him another 90 years of a well-lived life, hoping that Jones would live a long and healthy life. And today, a little over year later, fans of Jones, as well as those in the music industry, would learn of and mourn his passing.

His career spanned more than 70 years, earning him the titles of the legend and titan. If you’re ever stuck to some of Michael Jackson’s anthems and hits including “Thriller” and the evergreen “We Are The World”, you’ll have Jones to thank. His work for “We Are the World” is in alignment with the artiste’s impetus to take action against the famine crisis that took place back then in the 1980s.

Despite Jones’ status now, Jones did not come from a family of big names. His exposure to music began when his mother started singing. Meanwhile, his father was a carpenter – and given his circumstances, Jones was only afforded a radio – no other instrument. Even then, the radio became Jones’ source of imagination.  

When Jones was 10, his father moved the family along with Jones to Seattle from his Chicago home, from what seems like after Jones’ mother died. And since then, Jones’ experience with music broadened. Some two or three years after the relocation, he’d watch bands and then, from then onwards, his perception of these bands changed.

Jones picked up the trumpet and got into jazz, had his first escape with a band and recorded his first song when he was 18. He didn’t complete his studies at a music school, despite being accepted into it. His music arrangement skills were developed when Jones went to Paris in the '60s and was under the tutelage of Nadia Boulanger – who also taught Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland and Igor Stravinsky.

When Jones was 22, Jones got his first big break when Dizzy Gillspie asked Jones to lead a band on tour to the Middle East. Jones wrote the arrangement of national anthems for every country they went to on a visit. From then onwards, Jones’ portfolio solidified as he was tasked to write for icons including Frank Sinatra. Jones’ friendship with Ray Charles is one that helped propel Jones’ and Charles’ careers even further.

Jones’ other significant milestones include being the first African-American music director when he started composing for film and television in the ‘60s.

Jones had received 28 Grammy Awards throughout his lifetime.

Some of Jones’ quotes:

“You can’t get an A if you’re afraid of getting an F.”
“Editing while you’re writing is like strangling the baby in the crib.”

And so, now you know… why Jones is aptly the maestro.