Remembering Quincy Jones: 10 songs from across his career to honor his legacy

Few artists can boast such a legacy that their name alone could be considered synonymous with the music industry, but nevertheless, most musicians aren’t like this prodigy producer Quincy Jones.

The extraordinary figure died on Sunday evening at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by his family. He was 91 years old and was to receive the award Honorary Academy Award later this month.

Over the course of his career, Jones, a 28-time Grammy Award winner, has worked with everyone from Ray Charles and Frank Sinatra to Michael Jackson with tons of in between. The best way to honor his legacy is, in fact, by listening to the music he created.

Read on after which listen to all of the songs on our Spotify playlist, here.

1963: Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie’s Orchestra, “Honeysuckle Rose”

Those who want to start listening to Jones on the very starting of his career can accomplish that with “Liza” from his first album, Jazz Abroad, released with Roy Haynes. As for others, take a look at his arrangements in “Ella and Basie!” from 1963 Fitzgerald album with Count Basie’s orchestra. Moving from vocals and bass to its own greatness – not to mention Fitzgerald’s stunning scat solo – the album’s “Honeysuckle Rose” exemplifies Jones’ jazz brilliance.

1963: Lesley Gore, “It’s My Party”

Teen heartbreak met its counterpart in Lesley Gore’s “It’s My Party,” recorded when the pop singer was still an adolescent. Jones produced an album with addictive melodies, percussion and a cheerful brass section – emotionally and diametrically opposed to the narrative story of a lady who, on her birthday, is abandoned by her boyfriend for her best friend. You’d cry too if it happened to you.

1964: Frank Sinatra, “Fly Me to the Moon”

Jones’ legacy is defined by his specific ability to master various American musical forms with conspicuous ease. Such is the case with this canonized cover by Frank Sinatra, “Fly Me to the Moon” from Sinatra’s 1964 album “It Might as Well Be Swing” arranged by Jones. The producer gave the song a powerful, swinging rhythm and a longing flute, and the remaining is history. You may also thank Jones for “The Best Is Yet It Come.”

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1967: Ray Charles, “In the Heat of the Night”

Jones scored the 1967 film “In the Heat of the Night,” which incorporates the gospel-style R&B title song “In the Heat of the Night,” performed by his good friend Ray Charles. It’s a soul committed to wax, enhanced by the inclusion of a rousing tenor saxophone solo.

1979: Michael Jackson, “Don’t stop until you’ve had enough”

Perhaps Jones’ most famous production collaboration is with Michael Jackson, during which he collaborated with the King of Pop on his culture-changing albums: 1979’s “Off the Wall,” 1982’s “Thriller” and 1987’s “Bad.” The couple met while working on the 1978 film “Wizard” —Jones was working on the film’s soundtrack, and Jackson was its star. With its inventive disco-funk, ambitious production and Jackson’s signature falsetto, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” set the stage for what would grow to be an enormous career.

1981: Quincy Jones, “Just Once”

Place it within the pantheon of great piano ballads: On Jones’ 1981 album “The Dude,” James Ingram takes over vocal duties on “Just Once,” a song with big heart and greater feelings.

1982:Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”

What songs are more recognizable? An prolonged drum and bass lick introduces “Billie Jean,” certainly one of the best genre-averse pop songs of all time, from Jackson’s record-breaking album “Thriller.” Here, Jones’ production is post-disco, but still funky, still prophetic. And time tells the best story: “Thriller” sold higher it sold over 20 million copies in 1983 alone and equaled, amongst others, the Eagles’ Greatest Hits 1971-1975 because the best-selling album of all time.

(*10*)1982: Donna Summer, “Love’s in Control (Finger on the Trigger)”

And now for something completely different: in 1982 he collaborated with Jones Donna Summer on her self-titled album dance-forward, which incorporates the synth-pop single “Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)”, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.

1985: USA for Africa, “We are the world”

Nearly 4 many years ago, a number of the biggest stars on the planet – including Jackson, Bob Dylan, Tina Turner, Dionne Warwick, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder, Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen – gathered for an all-night recording session. The result was “We are the world”, a pop superhit overseen by Jones, a 1985 charity record for African famine relief.

Lionel Richie, who co-wrote “We Are the World” and was certainly one of the lead vocalists, called Jones the “principal orchestrator.”

1989: Quincy Jones with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan, “I’ll be good to you”

In 1976, Jones produced the Brothers Johnson R&B hit “I’ll Be Good to You” after which re-recorded the song with Ray Charles and Chaka Khan – a spirited number with a recent production, completely changing the classic.