Quincy Jones is a superproducer who made his name as a jazz musician before producing pop classics including Thriller and Bad.
Quincy Jones is a superproducer who made his name as a jazz musician before producing pop classics including Thriller and Bad. ◦
He co-produced Michael Jackson's biggest-selling albums and has earned 28 Grammy awards. ◦
In both music and manner, he has registered as smooth, sophisticated, and impeccably well-connected. ◦
At the time of a February 2018 interview, he was seated in a palatial Bel Air home and in the midst of an extended victory lap ahead of turning 85 in March, with a Netflix documentary and a CBS special hosted by Oprah Winfrey on the horizon. ◦
He died at 91. ◦
Jones states that all he has ever done is tell the truth and that he has nothing to be scared of. ◦
He believes God gave humans two ears and one mouth so that people listen twice as much as they talk, and that everyone around you has a lesson to teach if you choose to learn. ◦
He views certain cultural movements as fads that can become permanent if handled correctly. ◦
He elects to air controversial truths publicly even when he professes reluctance, as when he said he hated to get into a topic publicly before stating that Michael Jackson stole a lot of songs. ◦
He engages with emerging genres and evaluates their potential for longevity rather than dismissing them outright. ◦
He operates from the principle that listening should outpace talking, and that every person is a potential teacher. ◦
He assesses new trends by their executional potential, suggesting that proper handling can transform a fad into a lasting form. ◦
He began as a jazz musician before becoming a pop superproducer. ◦
He produced the pop classics Thriller and Bad. ◦
He co-produced Michael Jackson's biggest-selling albums. ◦
He has earned 28 Grammy awards. ◦
He has demonstrated knowledge of and openness to electronic dance music. ◦
Jones has no filter. ◦
He speaks with a sense of wonder about his own experiences, noting that you almost can't believe what he has lived through. ◦
He is willing to dish outrageous gossip and make unfiltered public claims about collaborators. ◦
One interviewer described his conversation as the interview of the year. ◦
He frames advice through spiritual and philosophical references. ◦
In manner, he registers as smooth and sophisticated. ◦
He projects a smooth, sophisticated, and impeccably well-connected persona while simultaneously dispensing outrageous gossip and unfiltered controversy. ◦ ◦
He advocates listening twice as much as talking and learning from everyone, yet gives interviews characterized as wild and having no filter. ◦
He expresses reluctance to speak publicly on sensitive topics before doing exactly that. ◦
Approach him with the understanding that he believes everyone has a lesson to teach and that listening is paramount. ◦
Expect direct, unfiltered commentary, including public criticism of even his most significant collaborators. ◦
He is receptive to cross-genre discussions, as evidenced by his engagement with electronic dance music despite his jazz and pop pedigree. ◦