One legendary post-punk band Quincy Jones worked with might shock you

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As a music enthusiast who has traversed through the decades of musical evolution, I can confidently assert that Quincy Jones was not just a trailblazer, but a titan in the realm of entertainment. His influence transcended beyond music, encompassing television and film, making him a true visionary ahead of his time.

Quincy Jones can truly be called original – a term that’s often an exaggeration, but not in this case. On the 3rd of November, this legendary figure passed away at his residence in Bel-Air, California. At the time of his death, he was 91 years old.

Throughout a distinguished and extensive period in the industry, Jones significantly advanced the careers of numerous musical artists. He played a pivotal role in the creation of Michael Jackson’s iconic album, “Thriller,” and worked with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Will Smith, Ray Charles, and Billie Holiday, to name just a few. His business ventures expanded beyond music, encompassing television and film through his own entertainment company. However, it was not only his sharp business acumen that set him apart; his true talent lay in discerning what constituted quality music from what did not.

1975 saw the founding of his record company, Qwest Productions, by him, primarily due to his previous success in producing and conducting on numerous jazz albums, some of which belonged to Frank Sinatra. By the end of the 1970s, Jones had developed an ear for catchy pop tunes too.

New Order benefitted from the work they did with Quincy Jones

He too understood that just because a genre of music wasn’t typically what he dealt with didn’t mean it sounded poor. This held true for New Order, a band from Manchester. Although they changed their name from the post-punk giants Joy Division following Ian Curtis’s death, there was enough skill within Joy Division that New Order had a good chance of success.

Despite this, their British post-punk roots didn’t guarantee success in the U.S., but New Order found a unique blend by incorporating sequencers into their music, creating danceable tunes with a rhythmic heartbeat that people could sway to. Essentially, though they weren’t traditional pop, they shared some of Michael Jackson’s groove-inducing sensibilities.

In 1979, it was Jones who was responsible for creating Jackson’s debut album, “Off the Wall.” Two years later, in 1982, he also produced the record-breaking album, “Thriller,” which remains the best-selling album of all time. Although Jones didn’t produce New Order’s music, he valued their work enough to bring them under his label, Qwest Productions, thereby expanding their fan base in America.

Following the demise of Quincy Jones, Peter Hook – a bassist who was not only a key member of New Order but also an influential figure in his own right – expressed his sentiments publicly on social media platforms. On Twitter specifically, he penned, “It’s truly heartbreaking to learn about Quincy Jones. When he brought us under his label, he made us feel so warmly received – regularly inviting us for dinner at his residence whenever we were in town. He played a significant role in our success in America.

Hook didn’t merely assist the band with Jones, but also made an effort to portray him as a kind individual. He added, “He was so humble and sweet that you couldn’t help but fall in love with him. To this day, I still receive heartwarming Christmas and birthday messages from him each year! A true musical genius, but also a wonderful, loving man.

Although Jones didn’t create New Order’s hit single, “Blue Monday,” he did rework it into a track named “Blue Monday 1988” in 1988. This remix climbed to the third position on the UK charts, two steps higher than the original reached back in 1983.

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2024-11-06 17:00