'' (1989).
'''Quincy Delightt Jones Jr.''' (born March 14, 1933) is an American music impresario, musical arranger, record producer, and film composer.
During 50 years in the entertainment industry Jones' work has earned him more than 70 Grammy Award nominations, more than 25 Grammy Awards, and a Grammy Legends Award in 1991. He is best known as the producer of two of the top-selling records of all time: the album ''Thriller'', by pop icon Michael Jackson, and the charity song “We Are the World”.
In 1968, Jones along with his songwriting partner Bob Russell became the first African-Americans nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Original Song
category. That same year, he became the first African-American nominated twice in the same year when he was nominated for Best Original Score (for ''
In Cold Blood''). Jones is also the first (and so far, only) African-American to be nominated as a producer in the category of Best Picture (in 1986, for ''
The Color Purple''). He is also the first African-American to win the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, in 1995. He is tied with sound designer Willie D. Burton as the most Oscar-nominated African-American with seven nominations each.
Career
thumb|left|200px|Quincy Jones conducting in Paris, France (Photograph by Herman Leonard).
Born on March 14, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois, Jones discovered music in grade school and took up the trumpet. When he was 10, his family moved to Bremerton, Washington, where Jones became friendly with a young Ray Charles, who later taught Jones braille. The two boys formed a combo and played local weddings and the jazz clubs in what is now known as the Pioneer Square district of Seattle.
In 1951, at the age of 18, Jones won a scholarship to the Schillinger House in Boston. However, he abandoned his studies when he received an offer to tour as a trumpeter with the legendary bandleader Lionel Hampton. Whilst Jones was on the road with Hampton, he displayed an unusual gift for arranging songs. Jones relocated to New York City, where he received a number of freelance commissions arranging songs for artists like Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Gene Krupa and his old friend Ray Charles.
In 1956, Jones toured again as a trumpeter and musical director of the Dizzy Gillespie Band on a tour of the Middle East and South America sponsored by the United States State Department. Upon his return to the United States, Jones got a contract from ABC Paramount Records and commenced his recording career as the leader of his own band.
Jones moved to Paris, France in 1957. He studied music
