The Man Known as Q

Sometimes, a famous person can be known just by a single name like Madonna or Cher. But you know you have really made it when all you need is a letter. Quincy Jones is one such person. This American music impresario has earned a record 79 Grammy Award nominations and won 27 of them. This includes a Grammy Legend Award the Chicago native received in 1991. Quincy Jones produced the top-selling album Thriller, which took Michael Jackson to another level. It has sold 104 million copies worldwide. In 1985, he produced and conducted the famed multi-singer song “We Are the World.” He has been nominated for an Academy Award, won the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award has won BET’s Humanitarian Award. He is also the composer of the popular song, “Soul Bossa Nova,” which was released in 1962.

Smithsonian’s Quincy Jones orchestra program
Quincy Jones is no stranger to the Smithsonian. The Smithsonian orchestra developed the Big Bands Works of Quincy Jones and performed at several cities in the U.S. and Canada. Many times, Jones has lended his expertise to the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the institution's jazz and music scholars for several of their projects.

Read more about Jones’ relationship with the Smithsonian
Read more about how Quincy Jones' influence can be felt at certain parts of the Smithsonian. Also, read about his amazing life and accomplishments. All of this can be found by logging on to http://www.smithsonianmag.com/.

National Archives, Cleopatra, Quincy Jones, Wrigley Field, Diane Arbus, the Phantom of the Opera

Quincy Jones: The Musician and the Arranger

Quincy Jones is known throughout the music industry as being one of the most significant musicians and arrangers the world has ever seen. He has helped bring music to the masses and is widely credited for a wide range of talents including: arranging, conducting, a music impresario, record producer, film composer and trumpet player extraordinaire. Over his five decades in the music industry, he has amassed a wealth of awards including an incredible 27 Grammy Awards.

Quincy Jones Relied on Music Growing Up
Growing up, Quincy Jones did not have it easy. His mother was mentally ill and in and out of mental institutions. During these dark periods in his life he turned to his love of music to help him through the day. Quincy Jones first learned to play the piano and then in his early teens fell in love with the trumpet after hearing a musician at the local barber shop playing. Quincy Jones has enormous musical talent and was a quick learner. As he grew as a trumpet player, he played with the best names in the business and ultimately made a name for himself.

Quincy Jones Becomes an Arranger
Throughout the years, Quincy Jones branched out within the music industry and found fame and fortune as an arranger. To read more about this incredible musical genius, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an article on Quincy Jones. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

National Archives, Cheetah Facts, Glacier National Park, Quincy Jones, Diane Arbus, Phanotom of the Opera

The Musical Genius of Quincy Jones

For those that love jazz, pop, rhythm and blues, etc you probably have heard either a piece played by Quincy Jones or arranged by Quincy Jones. Quincy Jones is a musical master and an American Icon. Throughout his life, he has achieved numerous awards for his work in music and has touched countless musicians inspiring them to be great. For those that enjoy music, the Smithsonian Magazine offers a fascinating article on the arranger- Quincy Jones.

Quincy Jones: Early Life and Stardom
Quincy Jones was born into modest beginnings and found music at a relatively young age. His mother, beset by mental illness was in and out of psychiatric institutions from time to time. To deal with this monumental blow, Quincy Jones turned to music during the tough times. Throughout his life, Quincy Jones has found music. It started when he first played the piano in an old rec room at the age of 12 and advanced when he saw a trumpeter in a barber shop during his teenage years. As his life progressed, he became a master musician that played with the greats and then went on to be one of the world’s finest musical arrangers.

Read More About Quincy Jones
For those fascinated with Quincy Jones, the Smithsonian Magazine offers an excellent article on the man, the musician and his music. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Forbidden City, Phantom of the Opera, Glacier National Park, Quincy Jones, Diane Arbus, Parthenon

The Musical Arranger

Quincy Jones is one of the most successful musicians, producers and arrangers in the music business today. While he has been on the scene for more than half a century, he did come from humble beginnings and has made a successful career through lots of hard work, determination and raw talent. For those that are fascinated about the life of Quincy Jones, the Smithsonian Magazine has an article about this incredible arranger.

Quincy Jones Early Life
Quincy Jones had an ear for music from the very beginning. In his early years, he and his friends came across an old piano in a rec room, and once Quincy Jones put his fingers on the keys, he knew he found his true love. Throughout the years, Quincy’s mother was very sick with mental illness and consistently admitted into institutions. Quincy relied on music to get him through the tough times. As he became older, he heard a trumpet playing at a barber shop and immediately became enamored. After quickly learning to play the trumpet, he started to find jobs with some of the most successful and well known musicians in the business which ultimately led him to stardom.

For those fascinated with Quincy Jones and his musical abilities, the Smithsonian Magazine has an article on the subject. To read it, visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Phantom of the Opera, Quincy Jones, Glacier National Park, Cleopatra, Daredevil, Parthenon

The Music and Arrangement of Quincy Jones

One of the great musicians of our time is Quincy Jones, however, this talent is not only famous for being a great jazz musician, but an accomplished arranger. He has won many Grammy awards and has worked with some of the most famous musicians in the world, whether as part of a collaboration in pop, jazz, blues and even hip hop he has succeed.

Quincy Jones has an Impressive Story
Quincy Jones had a difficult childhood and was lucky enough to find music which helped him during this difficult time. His mother suffered from mental illness and she was many times institutionalized. However, at these difficult times, Quincy Jones relied on his talents and his hobby-music. First as a talented piano player and then as a trumpet player, Quincy Jones met and played with some of the most respected jazz musicians. As the decades passed, many seeked Quincy’s expertise as a phenomenal arranger and today, he is definitely seen by many in the music industry as a wizard or jack of all trades.

For those fascinated with Quincy Jones, the Smithsonian Magazine as an interesting article on his life and talent. To read it, please visit our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Quincy Jones, Forbidden City, Tattoo Art, Diane Arbus, Cheetah Facts, National Archives

Quincy Jones: A Musical Great

If you love music, whether it is jazz, pop, soul etc you probably have great admiration for Quincy Jones. Quincy Jones is one of the most successful and talented musicians, producers and arrangers this country has ever seen. From playing the trumpet as a teenager, to making the right connections within the music world Quincy Jones has gone on to compose, play and arrange some of the most popular music that has ever been produced.

Music as Life
Music was an extremely important part of Quincy Jones’s life. Since an early age, Quincy Jones used music as a tool to get him through the tough times. Unfortunately, his mother was mentally ill and would spend long bouts in mental institutions. This had a huge effect on Quincy Jones and he relied on music to escape. Thankfully, music was the gift that allowed him to be creative, find a community that he found support in and made him fantastically rich and famous as he succeeded beyond anyone’s imagination.

Learn More About This Fascinating Musical Legend
To learn more about Quincy Jones, the American musical icon, Smithsonian Magazine has put together an insightful article regarding his life and achievements. Please visit our main magazine website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

Phantom of the Opera, Cleopatra, Tattoo Art, Diane Arbus, Quincy Jones, National Archives

The Musical Master Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones is one of the most respected and recognizable music icons in the world. However, his beginnings were extremely humble, but with perseverance, raw talent and his ability to make the right connections, he grew to one of the best composers producers and arrangers in the music industry.

Life didn’t start out easy for Quincy Jones he thankfully had music as a tool to fall back on and to help him through the tough times. His mother was mentally ill and spent time in and out of many mental institutions. This has a huge affect on Quincy Jones, however he leaned on music and this resource ultimately made him a legend.

Quincy JonesQuincy Jones truly had lots of talent. He originally started playing the piano, however after hearing a barber playing the trumpet he immediately became obsessed with it and rose to be one of the best trumpet musicians in Chicago during the 50’s. With lots of talent and connections such as Cab Calloway, Count Basie and others, he rose to the pinnacle of the music industry and started to arrange.

The Smithsonian Magazine has an extremely interesting article regarding Quincy Jones, for those interested in this musical genius, please visit us at our main website at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

National Archives, Forbidden City, Diane Arbus, Daredevil, Quincy Jones, Parthenon