The Associated Press (“AP News”) reports that Quincy Jones (91) died Sunday night (11/3/2024) at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, surrounded by his family.
Jones’ life went from running with gangs on the South Side of Chicago to the very heights of the American music industry. He was one of the first Black executives to thrive in Hollywood and amassed an extraordinary musical catalog.
Jones kept company with presidents, foreign leaders, movie stars, musicians, philanthropists and business leaders. He toured with the Count Basie Orchestra and Lionel Hampton. He arranged records for Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald, and composed the soundtracks for “Roots” and the television series “In the Heat of the Night.” He organized President Bill Clinton’s first inaugural celebration and oversaw the all-star recording of “We Are the World,” the 1985 charity record for famine relief in Africa.
The AP News article may be read in full HERE.
My brothers and sisters, it’s nearly impossible to overstate the influence Quincy Jones had over his lifetime on the world of music – all styles of music. He was already an icon in the music industry when this writer was studying music at North Texas State University in the early ’80s.
One of Jones’ most noted collaborations was with pop star Michael Jackson, including Jones’ work on the ‘Thriller’ album (which sold more than 20 million copies in 1983). He also produced the Eagles’ ‘Greatest Hits 1971-1975′ album, which became one of the best-selling records of all time. Yet, to the professional musician, all of the aforementioned attributes are just scratching the surface of Jones’ contributions to the music world.
Some persons leave the world a better place because of their presence. Quincy Jones was one of those persons. His musical talent and legacy of excellence will live on for a very long time. It is hard to imagine any single person working with Count Basie and eventually producing a world-renowned hit songs for Michael Jackson. He will be greatly missed.
This writer has seen conflicting information regarding Jones’ faith or religious affiliation, but as with any person, famous or not, it is our individual responsibility to seek forgiveness for our sin and to be saved through faith in Jesus Christ. I pray that Quincy is in the very presence of God right now, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Let’s consider what the Bible has to say about salvation and the importance of the name of Jesus:
Acts 2:21 (NKJV)
Peter Speaking the Words of the Prophet Joel
“And it shall come to pass [t]hat whoever calls on the name of the Lord [s]hall be saved.”
Acts 4:12 (Amplified Bible)
“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)
“…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Romans 10:13 (NKJV)
“For ‘whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”