Remembering Quincy Jones

In tribute to the master musician, composer, arranger, film and music producer, we hear BBC interviews covering his life and career with Jamie Cullum, Steve Wright, Matt Everitt, John Wilson, Nicky Campbell, Alan Yentob, Robert Cushman, Simon Bates and Stuart Grundy (when Quincy when he was in his 50s). The list of his collaborations is extraordinary and unparalleled from his teenage years onwards - Count Basie, his childhood friend Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Chaka Khan and right up to date with his recent protege Jacob Collier.

It could be said he completely changed the game for established artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Donna Summer, Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra with his groundbreaking arrangements and production. Interestingly, he says, with true modesty, of the biggest selling album in history, Thriller, that nobody sets out to sell 50 million records: you just do your best. It was recorded in eight weeks in five studios running simultaneously. Vincent Price recorded his part in two takes.

Quincy also pioneered the use of electric bass and synthesisers and became a great friend of his celestial twin Michael Caine while scoring The Italian Job in London and loved hearing his song The South Preservation Society sung at World Cup football matches. We also hear how Sidney Lumet and Steven Spielberg helped him with his film career.

Produced for BBC Audio by Mark Simpson, with David Hyde from the BBC Archive Curation team

Interviews on the life and career of the master musician, composer, arranger and producer.

Celebrating arguably one of the greatest music producers - Quincy Delight Jones Jr.

A tribute to the master musician, composer, arranger, film and music producer, we hear BBC interviews covering his life and career, especially work with Sinatra and Michael Jackson

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This new two-part documentary explores the origins and legacy of music industry heavyweight Quincy Jones, narrated by renowned DJ and Radio 2 presenter DJ Spoony. Each episode highlights some of his greatest achievements by delving into his ground-breaking work as a record producer, arranger, musician, composer and conductor, as well as a film and TV producer.

Jones is one of the most successful and admired creative artists in history and has the honour of being one of only 18 others to have won all four major annual American entertainment awards, namely the Grammys, Emmys, Tonys and a Special Academy Award! With a career spanning seven decades, the programmes feature some of the biggest names in the music industry and those who worked alongside him throughout his glory days, including musical arranger Greg Phillinganes and vocalist Howard Hewett of Shalamar.

This opening episode spans Quincy's career from the 1950s, when he worked with Frank Sinatra, Benny Carter and Dinah Washington, through to the late 70s where he was a prolific artist, arranger and producer, easily moving from scoring films, performing with orchestras and arranging and producing soul and funk albums. DJ Spoony goes back to Quincy Jones's time as a trumpet player and arranger during the big band era of the 1950s. He learns how Quincy's career evolved after he collaborated with Frank Sinatra. It features the voices of composer John Altman, jazz pianist Reuben James, Kym Mazelle, Dennis Seaton of Musical Youth, singer-songwriter Deniece Williams, Swing Out Sister and more.

DJ Spoony explores the origins and legacy of Quincy Jones.

Celebrating arguably one of the greatest music producers - Quincy Delight Jones Jr.

This new two-part documentary explores the origins and legacy of music industry heavyweight Quincy Jones.

[LISTEN NOW]

This new two-part documentary explores the origins and legacy of music industry heavyweight Quincy Jones, narrated by renowned DJ and Radio 2 presenter DJ Spoony. Each episode delves into his ground-breaking work as a composer, conductor, best-selling author and producer, highlighting some of his greatest achievements.

This second episode looks back to when Quincy Jones met Michael Jackson whilst making the Wiz, which led to them making of the legendary Off the Wall album together, with Quincy producing it. We hear from Howard Hewett of Shalamar and pianist and arranger Greg Phillinganes about the making of Off the Wall and also Thriller. Created in November 1982, Thriller was produced entirely by Quincy and earned Jackson eight Grammy Awards and a Brit Award, and spent 37 non-consecutive weeks at number one and more than 500 weeks on the Billboard Album Chart. Selling 100 million copies since its release, Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time.

The 1980s had other highlights for Quincy including producing music for George Benson and Donna Summer as well as producing his own albums, including The Dude, which featured vocals from Patti Austin and James Ingram. Craig David and Dennis Seaton share their memories of meeting him, and we hear how Quincy moves into the world of hiphop. Featured artists include Claude McKnight of Take 6, Kym Mazelle, Craig David, and Vula Malinga.

DJ Spoony explore the origins and legacy of music industry heavyweight Quincy Jones.

Celebrating arguably one of the greatest music producers - Quincy Delight Jones Jr.

DJ Spoony presents Forty Thousand Years of Funk, exploring the legacy of Quincy Jones and marking 40 years of Thriller.

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