Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Quincy Jones

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Quincy Jones made an impact.

Quincy Jones is a highly acclaimed American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader with a career spanning seven decades. He's garnered significant recognition, including 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award. Furthermore, he has been nominated for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards, solidifying his impact and contribution to the music and entertainment industry.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Legacy & Impact

1953: European Tour with Lionel Hampton

In 1953, at the age of 20, Quincy Jones toured Europe with jazz bandleader Lionel Hampton, an experience that broadened his perspective on racism and global conflicts.

1954: Settled in New York

After leaving the Hampton band in 1954, Quincy Jones settled in New York and began writing music professionally.

1956: CBS' Stage Show with Elvis Presley

In early 1956, Quincy Jones played second trumpet in the studio band that supported Elvis Presley in his first six television appearances on CBS' Stage Show.

1957: Moved to Paris

In 1957, Quincy Jones moved to Paris to study composition and theory and became music director at Barclay, a French record company.

1958: First collaboration with Frank Sinatra

In 1958, Quincy Jones first worked with Frank Sinatra when invited by Princess Grace to arrange a benefit concert at the Monaco Sporting Club.

1961: Vice-President of Mercury Records

In 1961, Quincy Jones was promoted to Vice-President of Mercury Records, becoming the first African American to hold that position.

1962: "Soul Bossa Nova" tune originated

In 1962, Quincy Jones's tune "Soul Bossa Nova" originated on the Big Band Bossa Nova album.

1963: Produced "It's My Party" and "She's a Fool"

In 1963, Quincy Jones produced Lesley Gore's hit singles "It's My Party" and "She's a Fool", contributing to her early success.

1964: Arranged and conducted 'It Might as Well Be Swing'

In 1964, Quincy Jones arranged and conducted Frank Sinatra's second album with Count Basie, 'It Might as Well Be Swing'.

1964: Composed music for 'The Pawnbroker'

In 1964, Quincy Jones composed music for 'The Pawnbroker' at the invitation of director Sidney Lumet, marking his entry into major motion picture scores.

1964: Produced "Judy's Turn to Cry" and "You Don't Own Me"

In 1964, Quincy Jones produced Lesley Gore's "Judy's Turn to Cry" and "You Don't Own Me", which became notable hits.

June 1965: Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and Johnny Carson performed with Basie orchestra in St. Louis

In June 1965, Jones was the arranger/conductor when Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, and Johnny Carson performed with the Basie orchestra in St. Louis.

October 16, 1965: Sinatra and Basie on 'The Hollywood Palace'

On October 16, 1965, Quincy Jones was the arranger/conductor when Frank Sinatra and Count Basie appeared on 'The Hollywood Palace' TV show.

1965: Composed film score for 'The Pawnbroker'

In 1965, Quincy Jones composed the film score for 'The Pawnbroker', marking the first of nearly 40 major motion picture scores.

1965: Produced "Look of Love", "Maybe I Know", "Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows", and "My Town, My Guy And Me"

In 1965, Quincy Jones produced several more notable hits for Lesley Gore, including "Look of Love", "Maybe I Know", "Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows", and "My Town, My Guy And Me".

1965: Composing film scores for Mirage and The Slender Thread

In 1965, following the success of 'The Pawnbroker', Quincy Jones composed film scores for 'Mirage' and 'The Slender Thread', leading to high demand as a composer.

1966: Conducted and arranged 'Sinatra at the Sands'

In 1966, Quincy Jones conducted and arranged Frank Sinatra's live album with the Basie Band, 'Sinatra at the Sands'.

1966: Continued to produce for Lesley Gore

Quincy Jones continued to produce for Lesley Gore until 1966, marking the end of a successful collaboration.

1967: Composed film scores for 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'In Cold Blood'

In 1967, Quincy Jones composed the film scores for both 'In the Heat of the Night' and 'In Cold Blood', further establishing his career as a composer.

1967: Nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Score

In 1967, Quincy Jones was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score for In Cold Blood, making him the first African American to be nominated twice in the same year.

1968: First Academy Award Nomination for Best Original Song

In 1968, Quincy Jones became the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "The Eyes of Love".

1969: Composed film score for 'The Italian Job'

In 1969, Quincy Jones composed the film score for 'The Italian Job', contributing to another notable film.

1971: First African American musical director and conductor of the Academy Awards

In 1971, Quincy Jones became the first African American to be the musical director and conductor of the Academy Awards.

1975: Founded Qwest Productions and Reunited with Lesley Gore

In 1975, Quincy Jones founded Qwest Productions and reunited with Lesley Gore, producing her critically acclaimed album Love Me By Name.

1977: Primetime Emmy Award for 'Roots'

In 1977, Quincy Jones won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the miniseries 'Roots'.

1978: Composed film score for 'The Wiz'

In 1978, Quincy Jones composed the film score for 'The Wiz', a musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz.

1978: Produced 'The Wiz' Soundtrack

In 1978, Quincy Jones produced the soundtrack for 'The Wiz', starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross, leading to his collaboration with Michael Jackson on his solo album.

1979: Production of "Off the Wall"

In 1979, Quincy Jones produced Michael Jackson's album "Off the Wall", marking a significant milestone in both of their careers.

1981: Release of album 'The Dude'

In 1981, Quincy Jones released his album 'The Dude', which featured hits such as 'Ai No Corrida', 'Just Once', and 'One Hundred Ways'.

1982: Production of "Thriller"

In 1982, Quincy Jones produced Michael Jackson's album "Thriller", which became the highest-selling album of all time.

1984: Teamed up for 'L.A. Is My Lady'

In 1984, Frank Sinatra and Quincy Jones teamed up for the album 'L.A. Is My Lady'.

1985: Recorded 'We Are the World'

After the 1985 American Music Awards, Quincy Jones gathered major recording artists to record 'We Are the World' for famine relief in Ethiopia.

1985: Composed film score for 'The Color Purple'

In 1985, Quincy Jones composed the film score for 'The Color Purple', adding to his repertoire of film scores.

1985: Film producer for 'The Color Purple'

In 1985, Quincy Jones debuted as a film producer with 'The Color Purple', which received 11 Oscar nominations.

1986: Started Qwest Entertainment

In 1986, Quincy Jones started Qwest Entertainment to produce films and manage his media ventures, including Qwest Records and Qwest Music Publishing.

1987: Production of "Bad"

In 1987, Quincy Jones produced Michael Jackson's album "Bad", which sold 45 million copies, concluding their collaborations.

1990: Created Quincy Jones Entertainment (QJE)

In 1990, Quincy Jones Productions joined with Time Warner to create Quincy Jones Entertainment (QJE), signing deals with Warner Bros. and NBC Productions.

1991: Miles Davis agrees to perform at Montreux Jazz Festival

In 1991, despite suffering from pneumonia, Miles Davis relented to Quincy Jones' long-term persuasion and agreed to perform Gil Evans' arrangements at the Montreux Jazz Festival, resulting in his last album, Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux.

1993: Produces An American Reunion

In 1993, Quincy Jones collaborated with David Salzman to produce the concert An American Reunion, celebrating Bill Clinton's inauguration, and renamed his company to Quincy Jones/David Salzman Entertainment.

1994: Produced 'The Jenny Jones Show'

In 1994, Quincy Jones Entertainment began producing the first-run syndication of 'The Jenny Jones Show'.

1995: Produces Mad TV

In 1995, Jones began producing his own sketch comedy show, FOX's Mad TV, which ran for many years.

1995: Receives Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award

In 1995, Quincy Jones became the first African American to receive the academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

1995: 'In the House' aired on NBC and UPN

In 1995, the television show 'In the House', produced by Quincy Jones Entertainment, began airing on NBC and UPN, continuing until 1999.

1997: Produced 'The Jenny Jones Show' until 1997

In 1997, Quincy Jones Entertainment ended its production of the first-run syndication of 'The Jenny Jones Show'.

1997: "Soul Bossa Nova" used in Austin Powers

In 1997, Quincy Jones's 1962 tune "Soul Bossa Nova" was used as the theme for the spy comedy Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.

1999: 'In the House' ended airing

In 1999, 'In the House' ended airing on NBC and UPN.

2001: Becomes honorary member of the board of directors of the Jazz Foundation of America

In 2001, Quincy Jones became an honorary member of the board of directors of the Jazz Foundation of America and worked to support elderly jazz and blues musicians.

2001: Publishes Autobiography

In 2001, Quincy Jones published his autobiography Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones.

2001: Audio interviews included in special editions

In 2001, audio interviews with Quincy Jones were included in the special editions of Michael Jackson's 'Off the Wall', 'Thriller', and 'Bad' albums.

2004: Helps launch We Are the Future project

In 2004, Quincy Jones helped launch the We Are the Future (WAF) project, providing opportunities for children in impoverished and conflict-ridden areas.