Five musical artists whose careers were changed by Quincy Jones

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As a gamer who has lived through decades of musical evolution, I can confidently say that Quincy Jones is a legendary figure whose impact resonates even today. With over 70 years of a career spanning across various genres and mediums, he stands as an icon who transcended boundaries and connected the world through his gift.

Quincy Jones musical career spanned over 70 years. Within that timeframe, Jones released 16 studio albums, and he won 28 Grammys (listed as second in most wins in Grammy history).

He was the first Black musical director of the Grammys, he produced 37 musical scores, 24 soundtrack albums, a member of the elite “EGOT” club (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner), and he was the Producer of the biggest and best selling album of all time, Thriller. Through his talent, Jones broke barriers, erased boundaries and connected the world through his gift.

Quincy Jones was exceptional due to his keen talent-spotting skills. His unique knack for transforming an artist’s work into gold is a skill that deserves careful examination. As a result of Jones’ production, numerous artists experienced a transformation in their careers that was lasting. This speaks volumes about his contributions and expertise as a producer. In tribute to this iconic figure, let’s focus on the artists whose lives were significantly impacted through collaborating with Quincy Jones.

These five musical artists were changed for good by working with Quincy Jones

James Ingram

James Ingram’s career took off in 1973, but it was in 1981 when things really turned around for him. In a previous interview, Ingram shared that he had initially recorded a demo of the song “Just Once.” When Quincy Jones listened to the demo, he was so impressed with Ingram’s talent that he invited him to join the album project. In addition to recording “Just Once,” Ingram also contributed the track “One Hundred Ways.

1982 saw Ingram’s first Grammy victory, a milestone achieved through this collaboration. Following his successful Grammy win, his career experienced an extraordinary boost. He lent his vocals to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and reunited with Quincy Jones for “The Secret Garden.” His subsequent Grammy nominations totaled 12, and he earned two Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song. These nominations were for “Look What Love Has Done,” from the movie Junior, and “The Day I Fall In Love,” from Beethoven’s second soundtrack.

Al B. Sure

As Al B. Sure, I, Albert Joseph Brown III, found myself in an enviable position when the University of Iowa extended a full athletic scholarship my way due to my prowess on the football field. However, music had always been my first love, and I chose to pursue it instead. Then, like destiny guiding my steps, I won the Sony Innovators Talent Search in 1987, becoming their very first victor. This recognition opened doors for me, leading to a coveted contract that launched my singing career.

Following that, he unveiled his first album titled “In Effect Mode”. This initial release sold more than three million copies and stayed on the Billboard R&B charts for over seven consecutive weeks. After making his debut album, he was included in “The Secret Garden” (alongside James Ingram). He also received nominations for three Grammys and won both the American Music Award and Soul Train Award for Best New Artist. At the tender age of 19, Brown skyrocketed to global fame as a teenage superstar.

Tevin Campbell

13-year-old Tevin Campbell got his career kickstart by Quincy Jones, who included him in his debut song “Tomorrow (Better You, Better Me)” on the album “Back On The Block”. This song peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop charts in 1990. Following this, Campbell released his first solo single “Round & Round” from the movie “Graffiti Bridge”, which earned him a Grammy nomination in 1991.

Later on, Jones was responsible for launching Tevin’s first studio album titled “T.E.V.I.N.” This album brought him another pair of Grammy nominations. Notably, Jones connected Tevin with esteemed Producer Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, which resulted in the production of Campbell’s most successful album: “I’m Ready“. With hit tracks like “I’m Ready,” “Always In My Heart,” and “Can We Talk”, Campbell’s sophomore album surpassed sales of two million copies and garnered him another three Grammy nominations.

Will Smith

Question: Why does Will Smith appear on a list concerning music?

As a devoted fan, let me recount an intriguing tale. At one point, a torrent of funds found its way into Smith’s hands and it seemed as if I was watching water flow away without a care for taxes. Unfortunately, this led to the FBI determining that Smith owed a staggering $2.8 million in back taxes. Facing a daunting financial predicament, along came Quincy Jones to lend a helping hand.

Jones had just signed a deal with Warner Bros. Television and a script was pitched to him about a teen from the hood sent to live with his rich aunt and uncle. The idea was then pitched to Smith, but he was not interested. Jones saw his potential and gave him the script; giving him 10 minutes to improv the character. His fate was sealed that night and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was born. Thanks to Jones signing Smith on, Smith was cleared from his debt. It was rumored that Smith didn’t recieve a dime of his money from the show until the third or fourth season.

Michael Jackson

It’s clear that Michael Jackson reaped significant advantages from his collaboration with Quincy Jones, which actually began during the making of The Wiz. That’s when Quincy Jones was brought on board as the score and soundtrack album producer. It was during this project that MJ and Quincy first crossed paths and forged a strong relationship.

In his pursuit for a fresh start under a new record label, MJ turned to Jones to produce his debut album. At age 21, he desired a refined sound and Jones was just the right person for the job. Their initial collaboration led to the creation of “Off The Wall”, which earned him a Grammy award and ignited a spark within him. Inspired by this success, MJ told Quincy that his forthcoming project wouldn’t only surpass his previous work but also secure his place as one of the all-time greats.

The album in question is “Thriller,” released on November 29, 1982. This groundbreaking project has been Michael Jackson’s most successful endeavor to this day, even 42 years later, and it continues to hold the title for the best-selling album of all time. On that same night, Michael won a record eight Grammys for “Thriller,” with Quincy Jones being a co-winner on four of those awards. Later, Jones produced “Bad” for MJ, marking the conclusion of their fruitful collaboration as this was the final album Jones produced for him. Together, they produced 24 songs, solidifying their partnership as one of the most remarkable in music history.

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2024-11-05 17:00