The Complete Quincy Jones: My Journey & Passions

by Quincy Jones, Maya Angelou (Preface), Clint Eastwood (Foreword)

Everything you love about American popular culture is Quincy Jones. As an artist and impresario Quincy Jones has been the creative catalyst for over 60 years of American cultural phenomena orchestrating the sounds of Frank Sinatra, setting the ambiance for Steven Spielberg, cultivating the talent of Michael Jackson, and introducing to the world Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith - to name a few. The Complete Quincy Jones examines the diverse virtuosity of Quincy Jones, celebrating his prolific contribution to American art and culture. Comprised of personal interviews and recollections with Jones, this collection peers behind the veil of celebrity, with extraordinary access to his creative inspirations and labors. Through private notebooks, correspondence, and photographs Jones offers unprecedented introspection into the depths of his creativity and the histories of his ventures. From the volumes of his memorabilia, Jones emerges as a contemplative and dynamic maestro, thriving on intuition and ceaselessly pursuing the soul of his art.

Genres: Music, Memoir, Biography

158 pages, Hardcover

First published October 28, 2008

About the author

Quincy Delight Jones Jr. was an American record producer, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received many accolades including 28 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Tony Award as well as nominations for seven Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.
Jones came to prominence in the 1950s as a jazz arranger and conductor before producing pop hit records for Lesley Gore in the early 1960s (including "It's My Party") and serving as an arranger and conductor for several collaborations between Frank Sinatra and the jazz artist Count Basie. Jones produced three of the most successful albums by pop star Michael Jackson: Off the Wall (1979), Thriller (1982), and Bad (1987). In 1985, Jones produced and conducted the charity song "We Are the World", which raised funds for victims of famine in Ethiopia.
Jones composed numerous films scores including for The Pawnbroker (1965), In the Heat of the Night (1967), In Cold Blood (1967), The Italian Job (1969), The Wiz (1978), and The Color Purple (1985). He won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series for the miniseries Roots (1977). He received a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical as a producer for the revival of The Color Purple (2016).
Throughout his career he was the recipient of numerous honorary awards including the Grammy Legend Award in 1992, the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995, the Kennedy Center Honors in 2001, the National Medal of the Arts in 2011, the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2014, and the Academy Honorary Award in June 2024. He was named one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century by Time.

Reviews

[Ast · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an incredible account of the many lives of Quincy Jones. It is mind-blowing that just one person had so much impact on our culture. He lived through different eras, worked through many decades, and connected with people from all walks of life. His story is an inspiration to all creatives and a stellar example of why it's important to pursue your passions. It's unimaginable what this world would've been like without his talents and dedication.

[Gail Johnson, Ph.D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this big heavy book/memoir was like going to Quincy's house for the first time. He takes you on a tour of his house and explains all the wonderful things inside of it. A lot of pictures. Defiantly a book for a Quincy fan. Loved it!

[Beatrice M · Rating 5 out of 5]

very interesting life, learned some more about motown etc.

[Amy]

Got it for Christmas from my husband. Will read it soon.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A scrapbook and visual biography. I never knew how many people Quincy worked with and influenced and was influenced by. He has had quite a life!