R.I.P. Quincy Jones: Music Icon And Producer Behind ‘The Color Purple,’ ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ Dead At 91

Prolific musicial composer and television producer Quincy Jones has passed away. He was 91.

Jones’ publicist confirmed he died Sunday (Nov. 3) night in his Bel Air home, surrounded by family, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

Jones had a hand in several successful projects, including as producer on Steven Spielberg‘s 1985 adaptation of The Color Purple and the 2023 remake; he helped obtain the adaptation rights for the classic and cast Oprah Winfrey. He also served as an executive producer on MADtv from 1997 to 2009, the 1995 sitcom In The House, and the Will Smith classic The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He later served as executive producer on the 2022 reboot Bel-Air.

The Hollywood legend received dozens of awards across music, television, and film throughout his decades-long career, including 28 Grammy Awards, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award from the Academy in 1995, and an Emmy in 1977 for writing the theme song for Roots: Part 1.

Jones also won a whopping 28 Grammy Awards, making him the third-most decorated of all time. His career began after he met Ray Charles as a teenager, which eventually led to collaborations with Count Basie, Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, and later, Michael Jackson.

Jones suffered two brain aneurisms in 1974, which inspired his loved ones to hold a memorial service.  “It didn’t look like I’d make it, so my friends planned a memorial … They had the concert anyway,” he wrote in his 2008 book, The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions: Photos, Letters, Memories & More From Q’s Personal Collection, per THR.

Jones also helmed the recording sessions of “We Are The World” in 1985, which raised millions for victims of famine in Ethiopia. The story behind that fateful evening was later captured in the Netflix doc We Are The World, with real footage from that evening showing Jackson, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and more in a battle of the egos.

Jones is survived by his seven children, who include Parks & Rec actress Rashida Jones.

Jones co-directed a Netflix documentary about his unparalleled career titled Quincy.