Quincy Jones, the legendary musician and entertainment icon, has passed away at the age of 91.

Quincy Jones, the iconic composer and producer who lent his masterful touch to the music of legends such as Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson, has passed away at the age of 91, according to his representatives.

Jones died Sunday evening at his home in Bel Air, California, surrounded by his family, including his children and siblings. In a heartfelt statement, the Jones family expressed their profound loss, stating, “With full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. Although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived. There will never be another like him; he is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly. We take comfort in knowing that the love and joy that were the essence of his being were shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”

A celebrated figure in both jazz and pop, Jones was not only a talented musician but also an innovative arranger, conductor, record label executive, and civil rights advocate, carving out an unparalleled career in the entertainment industry.

Jones' illustrious portfolio includes composing the Oscar-winning score for In the Heat of the Night, producing Michael Jackson’s record-breaking album Thriller, and gathering a roster of pop and rock stars for the charity single “We Are the World” in 1985.

Born in Chicago to a carpenter father and a mother with mental illness, Jones discovered his passion for music early in life, learning to play the piano. His family later relocated to Seattle, where he began taking lessons from renowned trumpeter Clark Terry and formed a lifelong friendship with a young pianist named Ray Charles.

As a teenager, Jones began performing with jazz bands, quickly attracting attention for his compositional skills. At just 15, he was invited by bandleader Lionel Hampton to tour with his band, but Hampton’s wife, Gladys, insisted he return to school first. Following her advice, Jones completed his education and earned a scholarship to Schillinger House (now Berklee College of Music) in Boston, graduating in 1951.

After graduation, Jones toured with Hampton’s band, launching a prolific career that included arrangements and recordings with jazz greats like Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, and his friend Ray Charles. He made history in 1964 when he became the first African American vice president of a major record label, Mercury Records.

His first major pop hit came with Leslie Gore’s “It’s My Party” in 1963, followed by numerous accolades, including his first Grammy for arranging the Count Basie Band’s “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” The 1960s saw him composing film scores and continuing his work with A&M Records, which he remained with until 1981 before founding his own label, Qwest.

In 1982, Jones produced Thriller, which became the best-selling album of all time, and three years later spearheaded “We Are the World.” He also enjoyed success in film as a producer of The Color Purple, directed by Steven Spielberg.

Beyond music, Jones was involved in television, producing the iconic series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, which starred his mentee, Will Smith. He founded the music and culture magazine Vibe in 1993, selling it in 2006.

In 1974, a brain aneurysm forced Jones to reduce his workload and focus on family. He had three marriages and seven children with five different women. His first marriage was to his high school sweetheart, Jeri Caldwell, followed by Swedish model Ulla Andersson, and actress Peggy Lipton. He also had children with dancer Carol Reynolds and actress Nastassja Kinski.

Jones remained active professionally in his later years, producing the documentary Keep on Keepin’ On in 2014 about his mentor, jazz trumpeter Clark Terry. Reflecting on his remarkable career, he once stated, “I never thought about it until I hit 80, but I have been blessed to work with every major music star in the history of America — including Louis Armstrong. You can’t plan that.”

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.