Superstar musical producer, arranger, and writer Quincy Jones, 91, died on Nov. 3. Jones won 28 Grammys, and his countless contributions include producing “It’s My Party,” the score to In Cold Blood, arranging and producing Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” video, and his Thriller and Bad albums. Jones started his career as a trumpeter, arranger, and pianist with Lionel Hampton, then moved to New York and worked with Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Elvis Presley. In 1961, Jones was named vice-president of Mercury Records, and began composing film and TV scores (Mackenna's Gold Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, The Color Purple, Cactus Flower, They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, Sanford and Son, Ironside, Banacek, Roots, Mad TV). His three wives included actresses Peggy Lipton and Ulla Andersson. Jones said he learned an important lesson during his early years as a jazz musician: “We had the best jazz band on the planet, and yet we were literally starving. That’s when I discovered that there was music, and there was the music business. If I were to survive, I would have to learn the difference between the two.”
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