Music History II
By: Thomas A Jenkins III
Quincy Jones
Instructor: Christopher Pierce
Independent research entry
My name is Thomas Jenkins also known in the music industry as “T”. I am a Producer, Engineer, a Rap artist and C.E.O of Conscious Mind Records Inc. I have been working and studying the art of producing music for over 10 years…and have been an artist for over 16 years. My favorite Producer of all times is Quincy Jones. No matter where you do your research, or who in the top of the industry you ask, his name is almost always mentioned as the best of the best. Legends have become legends by learning from Quincy Jones.
We should Observe Quincy Jones because He is by far the most influential music producer in the world today, because over his 5 decades in the Entertainment business he has earned 79 Grammy Award nominations, and 27 Grammy’s, including a Grammy Legend Award. One of his most known productions is the Michael Jackson “Thriller” album which has sold over 110 million copies worldwide.
Quincy Jones was born in 1943 in Chicago, Illinois. He discovered music in grade school at Raymond Elementary School on Chicago's South Side and took up the trumpet. He went on to study at the Prestigious Berkley College of Music. While there he was offered the chance to tour with Lionel Hampton’s band, as a Trumpeter, Arranger, and on occasions Pianist. He accepted the offer of coarse. In 1951 Quincy moved on to New York where he was able to make a big name for himself. While there he recorded and produced such legends as Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Big Maybelle, Dinah Washington, Cannonball Adderly and Levern Baker. In 1957, he continued his music education by studying in France with Nadia Boulanger, a Legendary Parisian Tutor to composers. During his stay in France Jones became music director at Barclay Disques, the French distributor for Mercury Records; he also successfully toured throughout Europe with a number of jazz orchestras. He formed his own band called "The Jones Boys", which after economic hardships Jones discovered that there is music and music business, and in order to survive he must learn the difference between the two. Jones got back on his feet with a loan and a new job as the musical director of Mercury Records New York division. In 1964, he was promoted to vice-president of the company, thus becoming the first African American to hold such a position. Jones has composed 33 major motion picture scores, some of which include “The Pawn Broker”, “In The Heat of the Night”, and “The Color Purple”. He also did scores for television shows such as “Roots”, “Sanford and Son”, and “The Bill Cosby Show”. In the 1960’s Jones did arranging for Artist such as “Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Peggy Lee. His music has been used in many movies such as Woody Allen’s “Take the Money and Run”, and Austin Powers :International man of Mystery. In 1993 Jones collaborated with David Salzmann to produce the concert, “extravaganza An American Reunion”, a celebration of Bill Clinton’s inauguration as President of the United States of America.
Quincy has won an Emmy Award for his score of the of the opening episode of the landmark TV miniseries, Roots, seven Oscar nominations, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, 27 Grammy Awards, and N.A.R.A.S.’ prestigious Trustees’ Award and The Grammy Living Legend Award. He is the all-time most nominated Grammy artist with a total of 79 Grammy nominations. In 1990, France recognized Quincy with its most distinguished title, the Legion d’ Honneur. He is also the recipient of the French Ministry of Culture’s Distinguished Arts and Letters Award. Quincy is the recipient of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music’s coveted Polar Music Prize, and the Republic of Italy’s Rudolph Valentino Award. He is also the recipient of honorary doctorates from Howard University, the Berkley College of Music, Seattle University, Wesleyan University, Brandeis University, Loyola University (New Orleans), Clark Atlanta University, Claremont University’s Graduate School, the University of Connecticut, Harvard University, Tuskegee University, New York University, University of Miami and The American Film Institute. Most recently, Jones was named a 2001 Kennedy Center Honoree, for his contributions to the cultural fabric of the United States of America.
In 2001, Quincy Jones added the title “Best Selling Author” to his list of accomplishments when his autobiography “Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones” entered the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Wall Street Journal Best-Sellers lists. The audio recording of “Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones,” (Simon & Schuster) recently earned Jones his 27th Grammy Award, in the Best Spoken Word Category, while “Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones” garnered him a 15th NAACP Image Award, in the category of Outstanding Jazz Artist.
With all of his accomplishment and awards, there is no doubt that Quincy Jones is the most Influential Producer of all times, and as a producer I look to learn from the things he has done and accomplished.
4. American Masters, PBS http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/jones_q_timeline_flash.html
