Quincy Jones left indelible imprints on jazz, pop and hip-hop

LOS ANGELES - Quincy Jones, a major influence on American music in his work with artists ranging from Count Basie to Frank Sinatra and who then reshaped pop music by collaborating with Michael Jackson, died on Nov 3 at the age of 91.

His publicist, Mr. Arnold Robinson, said Jones "passed away peacefully" at his home in Bel Air, while surrounded by his family.

Jones had a prolific career that spanned more than 65 years, establishing himself as a formidable force in the background and as a gifted artist in his own right. He left indelible imprints on jazz, pop, hip-hop and dozens of film and television soundtracks.

A studio workaholic and a virtuoso at handling delicate egos, he shaped recordings by jazz greats such as Miles Davis, produced Sinatra, and put together the superstar ensemble that recorded the 1985 fund-raiser We Are The World, the biggest hit song of its time.

He produced Jackson's smash record Thriller, released in 1982, as well as Steven Spielberg's adaptation of The Color Purple (1985) and the NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (1990 to 1996), projects that helped bolster his legacy as a hit-maker and media mogul.

Jones won 28 Grammys, putting him third on the list of all-time winners, after superstar artist Beyonce and conductor and pianist Georg Solti.

His circle of friends included some of the best known figures of the 20th century. He dined with Pablo Picasso, met Pope John Paul II, helped Nelson Mandela celebrate his 90th birthday and once retreated to Marlon Brando's South Pacific island to recover from a breakdown.

Jones' most lasting achievements were in collaboration with Jackson. They made three landmark albums - Off The Wall in 1979, Thriller in 1982 and Bad in 1987.