Quincy Jones famously regarded compassion and excellence as essential qualities in the artists he collaborated with.

“When artists have a passion for their craft, they put in the effort. We came from a time when the focus was not on fame or financial success, but rather on being true musicians,” Jones explained.

The esteemed producer, who started out playing trumpet and gained experience performing worldwide with the legendary Lionel Hampton, began composing for films back in 1964. His remarkable achievements spanned both sides of music production.

Jones, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 91, was a trailblazer in breaking racial barriers within the music and film industries and remains one of the most highly regarded producers in the history of music. His exceptional talent and distinctive style allowed him to work alongside icons such as Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles, while his legendary collaborations with Michael Jackson secured his place in the annals of pop music.

Jones’ impact is immeasurable. His most recent Grammy Award, the latest of 28 in total, was earned in 2023, contributing to Harry Styles’ win for Album of the Year for “Harry’s House.” The song “Daydreaming” from that album featured a sample of the 1978 song “Ain’t We Funkin’ Now,” which was co-written by Jones.

“Never give up. Always hold onto humility in your creativity and maintain grace in your success,” he advised in a 2018 interview with YSL News. “Just because you have a No. 1 record doesn’t make you superior to anyone else.”

Take a look at some of Quincy Jones’ most famous works.

‘Off the Wall’ Hits: ‘Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough’ and ‘Rock with You’

Jones first collaborated with Michael Jackson while scoring the 1978 film “The Wiz,” which featured Jackson and Diana Ross. He subsequently produced Jackson’s “Off the Wall” album in 1979, featuring popular tracks like “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,” “Rock with You,” “Off the Wall,” and “She’s Out of My Life.” This achievement made Jackson the first solo artist to have four singles from the same album chart in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.

The success of “Off the Wall” was also enhanced by contributions from Rod Temperton of Heatwave, whom Jones invited to write the title track and “Rock with You.” Jones and Temperton would later work together again on “Thriller.”

The Unprecedented Success of ‘Thriller’ with Michael Jackson

“Thriller,” released in 1982, is the best-selling album in history and established a new standard for Jackson and Jones as a dynamic music partnership. By seamlessly blending funk, pop, disco, and rock — and even featuring guitar legend Eddie Van Halen’s iconic solo in “Beat It” — “Thriller” redefined the landscape of pop music.

The album features an astonishing seven hit singles out of its nine tracks, including “Beat It,” “Billie Jean,” “The Girl is Mine” (featuring Paul McCartney), and “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing),” which Jones co-wrote with James Ingram, marking it as the pinnacle of Jones’ and Jackson’s collaboration.

Even the memorable spoken word segment in “Thriller,” delivered by horror film icon Vincent Price, was a creative idea from Jones.

Iconic Charity Song ‘We Are the World’

The remarkable collaboration between Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson is also behind the famous charity track “We Are the World.” This 1985 release garnered Jones three Grammy Awards, and a fourth for the best short music video. Co-written by Jackson and Lionel Richie, and co-produced by Jones and Michael Omartian, the single sold 20 million copies, making it one of the best-selling singles in history. Created as the U.S. response to the Band Aid initiative “Do They Know It’s Christmas?,” the song aimed to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine of the 1980s.

The track features a star-studded lineup of singers including Richie, Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Kenny Rogers, Ingram, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Willie Nelson, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Bob Dylan, and Ray Charles.

A recent Netflix documentary highlighted this memorable gathering, famously referred to as “The Greatest Night in Pop.”

Jones emphasized the importance of seriousness among the 46 participating music stars by putting up a handwritten sign above the studio door, reminiscent of Ted Lasso: “Check your egos at the door.”

Michael Jackson’s Bold Hits ‘Bad’ and ‘Man in the Mirror’

The third and final collaboration between Jackson and Jones, the 1987 album “Bad,” introduced even more groundbreaking tracks. The title track “Bad,” along with the heartfelt “Man in the Mirror,” the catchy “The Way You Make Me Feel,” the rock-inspired “Dirty Diana,” and the infectious “Smooth Criminal” further solidified the success of the Jackson-Jones partnership. Notably, it was one of the first albums to utilize digital synthesizers and explored Jackson’s deepening fears regarding media scrutiny as well as his dedication to promoting peace around the globe.

“Bad” topped the global charts as the best-selling album for both 1987 and 1988, moving 17 million copies and leading to a massive 123-date worldwide tour that became the second-highest grossing tour of the 1980s, behind Pink Floyd’s “A Momentary Lapse of Reason.”

‘Fly Me To the Moon’ Featuring Frank Sinatra and Count Basie

Quincy Jones arranged the 1964 album “It Might as Well Be Swing,” which saw Frank Sinatra collaborate with Count Basie. The album includes Sinatra’s legendary version of “Fly Me To the Moon,” a song closely associated with NASA’s Apollo missions, having been played during Apollo 10’s moon orbit and Apollo 11’s historic moon landing.

Lesley Gore’s Hit ‘It’s My Party’

Quincy Jones produced Lesley Gore’s debut album from 1963, titled “I’ll Cry If I Want To,” which featured her hit single “It’s My Party.” Jones played a crucial role in promoting the song, sending copies to radio stations nationwide for airing consideration. He and Gore developed a positive working relationship as he also produced her subsequent albums, including “Lesley Gore Sings of Mixed-Up Hearts,” “Boys, Boys, Boys,” “Girl Talk” in 1964, and “My Town, My Guy & Me” in 1965.

‘E.T. Phone Home’ from Spielberg’s ‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’

While Jones is widely recognized for his contributions to pop and jazz music, he also made a significant mark in the film industry as a composer and producer of numerous movie soundtracks. His journey began in 1964 with Sidney Lumet’s movie “The Pawnbroker.” Among his notable projects is the storybook album for Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” where he collaborated with John Williams, who provided the film’s score and original songs, with Jackson lending his voice for narration. The album features the iconic “E.T. Phone Home” track.

‘Ease On Down The Road’ from cult classic ‘The Wiz’

The soundtrack for “The Wiz,” a reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz,” outperformed its 1978 cinematic version, which was based on the 1975 stage play. “Ease On Down The Road” originates from the play, crafted by Charlie Smalls and Luther Vandross, and was produced by Jones, featuring performances by Ross and Jackson in the film.

This single marked one of the initial partnerships between Jackson and Jones and earned Jackson his first solo Grammy nomination, distinct from his work with his family band, The Jacksons.