1 00:00:01,866 --> 00:00:03,800 GEOFF BENNETT: A giant in the music and entertainment industry has died. 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:08,666 Quincy Jones was revered as a record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger 3 00:00:10,833 --> 00:00:13,733 and performer throughout his seven decades in the business. Through his vast range of projects, 4 00:00:15,700 --> 00:00:18,866 from the producer of the bestselling album of all time to composer of some of the most 5 00:00:18,866 --> 00:00:23,866 recognized music in film, he racked up 80 Grammy nominations and 28 Grammy Awards. 6 00:00:25,633 --> 00:00:28,733 Senior arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown has this for remembrance, 7 00:00:28,733 --> 00:00:33,733 part of our arts and culture series, Canvas. 8 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,533 JEFFREY BROWN: From Michael Jackson's biggest hits 9 00:00:38,533 --> 00:00:42,233 to some of Frank Sinatra's most classic arrangements, 10 00:00:48,633 --> 00:00:53,600 few loomed larger in American popular culture or had more success than Quincy Jones. 11 00:00:55,733 --> 00:00:58,066 QUINCY JONES, Record Producer: Love, laugh, live and give, that's what it's all about. 12 00:00:58,066 --> 00:01:03,033 JEFFREY BROWN: Born on Chicago's South Side in 1933, Jones began his life in music as a 13 00:01:05,333 --> 00:01:08,533 jazz trumpeter. He became fast friends with Ray Charles when both were in still in their teens. 14 00:01:12,866 --> 00:01:17,866 He soon began composing and arranging, including 1962's classic "Soul Bossa 15 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,400 Nova" and Lesley Gore's hit "It's My Party," which arrived a year later. Across a career 16 00:01:27,533 --> 00:01:32,533 that spanned more than 70 years, he worked with seemingly everyone, including jazz legends like 17 00:01:34,433 --> 00:01:38,133 Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, and rappers such as Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. 18 00:01:42,366 --> 00:01:47,333 His most impactful moment, a three-album run with Michael Jackson that included the bestselling 19 00:01:49,266 --> 00:01:53,033 record of all time, 1982's "Thriller," along with "Off the Wall" and "Bad." 20 00:01:56,733 --> 00:01:59,366 QUINCY JONES: Anyone who says they have figured out how to make 21 00:01:59,366 --> 00:02:04,333 records that sell more than 50 million records is lying and smoking Kool-Aid. 22 00:02:06,833 --> 00:02:08,933 (LAUGHTER) 23 00:02:08,933 --> 00:02:11,066 QUINCY JONES: Doesn't work like that. You just find a group of songs that touch you 24 00:02:11,066 --> 00:02:14,800 and give you goose bumps. And that's why I go by my goose bumps. I don't need survey 25 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,800 groups or anything like that, and let the rest take care of itself. 26 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:23,433 JEFFREY BROWN: In 2010, Jones was awarded the National Medal of Arts by former President Obama. 27 00:02:23,433 --> 00:02:26,066 MAN: For his extraordinary contributions to American 28 00:02:26,066 --> 00:02:29,833 music as a musician, composer, and arranger. 29 00:02:29,833 --> 00:02:34,466 JEFFREY BROWN: And he is one of just 27 members of the rarefied EGOT club, 30 00:02:34,466 --> 00:02:39,466 winner of an Emmy, Grammy, an honorary Oscar and Tony. The Oscar came in 1995. 31 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,033 QUINCY JONES: I did not engineer this journey. To tell you the truth, 32 00:02:45,033 --> 00:02:47,066 I don't think I could even see this far. 33 00:02:47,066 --> 00:02:50,233 JEFFREY BROWN: He composed dozens of memorable soundtracks for film and 34 00:02:50,233 --> 00:02:55,200 television, including "The Color Purple," a film he also produced, 35 00:02:57,766 --> 00:03:00,933 another prominent role he played in popular culture. 36 00:03:00,933 --> 00:03:05,233 In 1985, in a role only someone of his stature could have filled, 37 00:03:05,233 --> 00:03:10,233 he organized the recording of the smash-hit single "We Are the World," a session that 38 00:03:16,700 --> 00:03:21,700 featured music's biggest stars and would become one of the bestselling songs ever. 39 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,333 Jones had seven children and married three times. One of his daughters, 40 00:03:26,333 --> 00:03:31,333 the actress Rashida Jones, directed a 2018 documentary on his extraordinary life. 41 00:03:33,166 --> 00:03:37,633 QUINCY JONES: I have a feeling that God will prevail and the light will 42 00:03:39,700 --> 00:03:42,733 prevail. You have to think like that, because we have come a long way. Got a long way to go. 43 00:03:48,366 --> 00:03:51,300 JEFFREY BROWN: In a statement, his family said he died peacefully Sunday 44 00:03:51,300 --> 00:03:56,300 evening surrounded by loved ones. Quincy Jones was 91. 45 00:03:57,500 --> 00:03:59,700 For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Jeffrey Brown.