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| Quincy Jones |
By Darlene Donloe
The singular Quincy Jones is a love letter to music.
The music mogul with a notable musical legacy, has been a mainstay in the industry for decades. His contribution to the world of music is legendary.
Jones’ birthday and his influence on music were recognized during ‘Quincy Jones’ 90th-Birthday Tribute: A Musical Celebration’ a two-day event that took place at the Hollywood Bowl on Friday and Saturday (July 28-29).
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| Samara Joy |
The show’s all-star lineup on Friday included Samara Joy, BJ The Chicago Kid, Patti Austin, Angélique Kidjo, Ibrahim Maalouf, Siedah Garrett, Alfredo Rodriguez, Sheléa, Avery Wilson, and Stevie Mackey, with Stevie Wonder making a surprise appearance.
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| Patti Austin |
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| Aloe Blacc |
It was a perfectly magical night on Saturday as Patti Austin looking splendiferous in a gold gown welcomed the crowd.
One by one, during a two and half hour extravaganza, some of the music industry’s most celebrated performers paid homage to “Q” as he’s lovingly called in the industry, singing songs he either produced or arranged.
The top-notch, incomparable Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Alfredo Rodriguez kicked off the night with the ‘Austin Powers Theme’.
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| Jennifer Hudson |
The first half of the celebration included several of Quincy Jones’ classics. Austin sang “Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me,” which appeared on his 1981 album ‘The Dude.’
Samara Joy – whose last name is apropos when it comes to her voice, wowed the crowd with “Misty,” while Aloe Blacc looking every bit the entertainer in a powder blue suit – let loose with “Fly Me To The Moon,” a song Jones arranged for Frank Sinatra.
Jennifer Hudson did not disappoint with Lesley Gore’s 1963 hit, “You Don’t Own Me,” while Patti Austin reappeared to serenade the audience with “How Do You Keep The Music Playing?”
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| Jacob Collier |
Austin, in a bit of banter with the audience, introduced a man she called “a newcomer,” who just happened to be the one and only Stevie Wonder. And the crowd goes wild!!!
Wonder told stories about meeting Quincy Jones for the first time. Wonder was 14 at the time – running around the Apollo Theater. He called the meeting “magical,” and was impressed that Jones knew Ray Charles.
Wonder thanked Jones “For all the inspiration you’ve given me,” before singing Jones’s arrangement of “You Got It Bad Girl,” a song Wonder included on his ‘Talking Book’ album.
Other standouts during the night included singer Sheléa, who received a standing ovation after singing Tamia’s “You Put A Move on My Heart,” and Stevie Mackey who controlled the audience when he sang James Ingram’s “Just Once.”
Horn player, Ibrahim Maalouf, played “She’s Out of My Life” made famous by The Jackson 5.
After intermission, the second half of the show had a totally different vibe, which made for an unbalanced, but still rockin’ event. It was devoted to the award-winning collaborations between Jones and Jackson.
Vula Malinga, one of the exceptional background singers took center stage to sing Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin,’ while Avery Wilson kept the party going with Rock With You, Off the Wall, and Thriller - knocking it out of the park with his vocals and his thrillin’ moves. Other Jackson/Jones songs included Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough and P.Y.T.
Jackson’s ‘Human Nature’ was sung by Jacob Collier, who played the piano, while his mother, Suzie Collier, conducted the orchestra.
Siedah Garrett, who has worked closely with Jackson and Jones, sang the 1981 hit, ‘Man in the Mirror,’ which she co-wrote with Glen Ballard for Jackson.
Several of the performers (Ibrahim Maalouf, Samara Joy, Patti Austin, and Jacob Collier) took the stage to sing, Jones’ cover of ‘Let The Good Times Roll’ with Bono, Wonder, and Ray Charles from Q’s Jook Joint - before everyone returned to the stage to accompany Stevie Wonder as he sang his version of ‘Happy Birthday,’ written in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday being designated as a national holiday.
A living legend whose career spans 70 years, Jones, a composer, arranger, songwriter multi-instrumentalist, and one of the best-selling producers of all time, has been credited with changing the face of music.
Whether it was the big band era, which he started out with, jazz, funk, bebop, hip-hop, or rap, Jones made his mark as a true music master.
One of the most respected and influential figures in American music, Jones once said, “I'm probably the only one in the world you can name that's worked with Billie Holiday, Louie Armstrong, Ella, Duke, Miles, Dizzy, Ray Charles, Aretha, Michael Jackson, rappers, Sinatra, Paul Simon, Tony Bennett I'm the only one.”
Some highlights of his career include producing the best-selling album of all time Michael Jackson's “Thriller” album, and producing and conducting the best-selling single of all time at 20 million copies "We Are the World," which raised funds for the victims of Ethiopia's famine in 1985.
Noted for influencing some of the biggest musical talents and opening the door for future generations, Jones also served as a producer on a number of film and TV projects.
A Chicago native, Jones has earned 80 GRAMMY® Award nominations and won 28 GRAMMYs®, including the GRAMMY® Legend Award in 1991. In 2008, he received an NEA Jazz Masters award.
He is one of 22 EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) holders in history including seven Academy Award nominations, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. He was also inducted as a Kennedy Center Honoree.
Happy 90th Birthday Quincy Jones!
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