Michael Jackson Wiki

Welcome to the Michael Jackson Wiki, the encyclopedia intending to honor the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Here, you can discover or even share your knowledge about the star. Before doing so however, please make sure to check our rules and guidelines.

T40sunglasses

READ MORE

Michael Jackson Wiki
Michael Jackson Wiki
THE KING OF POP ENCYCLOPEDIA
1,271
pages
in: People, Collaborators, Session musicians,
and 3 more

Quincy Jones

Sign in to edit

Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Throughout his seven-decade career, he received many accolades, including 28 Grammy Awards,[1] a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award, as well as nominations for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time.[2]

Jones' most well-known collaboration is with Michael Jackson, with whom he produced three albums: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987), all of which would go on to become some of the most sucessful albums ever released. Jones held a high regard for Jackson's talent and artistry, acknowledging his profound impact on music.

Relation to Jackson[]

Jackson with Jones

Jackson with Jones

In 1978, Jones produced the soundtrack for The Wiz, the musical adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, which starred Jackson and Diana Ross. While working on The Wiz, Jackson asked Jones to recommend some producers for his upcoming solo album. Jones offered some names but eventually offered to produce the record himself. Jackson accepted, and on December 4, they began working on Jackson's first album under Epic Records, Off the Wall. Production continued until June 3, 1979, and the album was released on August 10. It eventually sold 20 million copies,[3] making Jones the most powerful record producer in the industry at that time.

In 1981, Jones and Jackson met again, this time, to work on the next album, Thriller. Sessions officially started on April 14, 1982 at Westlake, and continued until November 8. Thriller was released 21 days later, and sold 65 million copies, becoming the highest-selling album of all time. The rise of MTV and the advent of music videos as promotional tools also contributed to Thriller's sales.

In 1985, Jones decided to draw most of the major American recording artists of the day, including Jackson, into a studio to record "We Are the World", to raise money for the victims of famine in Ethiopia. Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote the track at Hayvenhurst, with Jones being the producer of the track. "We Are the World" was released on March 7, becoming the eighth best-selling single of all time, with 20 million copies sold.

Between 1986-1987, Jones was apart of the A-team in Westlake that polished and finished up demos[4][5] written by Jackson at his Hayvenhurst home.[4] These demos were for Jackson's album, Bad, which eventually sold 35 million copies. It was also the last time they worked together, as Jackson seperated himself from Jones shortly after the release of Bad, due to Jackson wanting more creative control, and also thinking that Jones was "out of touch" with the current music industry, not wanting the general public to think his popularity depended on him. Audio interviews with Jones were included in the 2001 special editions of Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.

In a 2002 interview, when asked if he'd work with Jones again, Jackson suggested he might. But in 2007, when Jones was asked by NME, he said: "Man, please! We already did that. I have talked to him about working with him again, but I've got too much to do. I've got 900 products, I'm 74 years old." Upon Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, Jones expressed deep sadness, calling him a "different kind of entertainer" and "a man-child in many ways" who was "beyond professional and dedicated".

“ I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on The Wiz and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the '80s. To this day, the music we created together on Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad is played in every corner of the world, and the reason for that is because he had it all ... talent, grace, professionalism, and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer, and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him. ”

–Jones' tribute to Jackson

In October 2013, the BBC and The Hollywood Reporter reported that Jones planned to sue the Michael Jackson Estate for $10 million. Jones said that MJJ Productions, a song company managed by the estate and Sony Music Entertainment, improperly re-edited songs to deprive him of royalties and production fees and breached an agreement giving him the right to remix master recordings for albums released after Jackson's death.[6] The songs Jones produced for Jackson were used in the film Michael Jackson's This Is It. It was reported that Jones filed the suits specifically against the Michael Jackson Cirque du Soleil shows, and the anniversary album, Bad 25.[7] Jones also believed that he should've received a producer credit in the film.[6][8][9]

Credits[]

Off the Wall[]

Thriller[]

Bad[]

Other[]

References[]

  1. ↑ Quincy Jones, producer and entertainment powerhouse, dies aged 91
  2. ↑ Quincy Jones Was a God Among Producers. Five Ways He Revolutionized Music
  3. ↑ List of best-selling albums - Wikipedia
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Making Michael: Inside the Career of Michael Jackson
  5. ↑ Michael Jackson's 'Bad' Just Wasn't That Good
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Quincy Jones Sues Michael Jackson Estate
  7. ↑ Quincy Jones Files $10M Lawsuit Over Michael Jackson Music (Exclusive)
  8. ↑ US music producer Quincy Jones sues Jackson estate
  9. ↑ Quincy Jones sues Michael Jackson's estate
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.