1933-2024 QUINCY JONES - The Life & Legacy of a Music Legend

HOW A CHILD PRODIGY FROM CHICAGO BEAT THE ODDS AND CHANGED THE MUSIC BUSINESS FOREVER

- JORDAN RUNTAGH

They say you've made it in show business when you can go by one name. Quincy Jones only needed one letter. The man known as "Q" brought oldschool cool to everything he touched. His impact on jazz, funk and rap made him one of the chief architects of 20th-century music and one of the most influential producers ever. Cutting his teeth with big-band greats, Jones evolved with the times, remaining a vibrant force, working with artists as diverse as Duke Ellington, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson.

Outside of his recording career, Jones produced Oscar-winning movies, launched groundbreaking sitcoms and campaigned tirelessly for civil rights until his death on Nov. 3 at the age of 91. "Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones's heart will beat for eternity," his family said in a statement.

Born into a troubled family in Chicago, Jones, a child prodigy, escaped into music, learning to play the trumpet. By 13 and after a move west, he had turned pro, sitting in with swing bands at Seattle area nightclubs, where he crossed paths with greats like Ellington.

Jones earned a scholarship to Boston's prestigious Berklee School of Music, but he dropped out to launch his career. In the mid-'50s Jones became a fixture on the New York City jazz scene, sharing the stage with Billie Holiday. "I kept thinking, 'It's a dream,"" he said.