Quincy Jones has been a ubiquitous presence on the American music scene for over 50 years. His impact on the worlds of jazz and pop music cannot be understated, as he has been involved in crafting the sounds of some of these genres' most crucial works. Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones spent his teenage years in Seattle, Washington. Music became his life's calling while attending Garfield High School, studying trumpet and arranging. His studies eventually led him east to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music. He would also spend time in the late 1950s studying with renowned educators Nadia Boulange and Olivier Messiaen. Jones' first major musical experiences came as a member of the trumpet section of Lionel Hampton's band; this section also included such future heavy hitters as Clifford Brown and Art Farmer. Continued work as a trumpeter and arranger came while a member of Dizzy Gillespie's famed big band of the mid 1950s. Inspired by these experiences, Jones formed his first band in 1960. Although this band was staffed by some of the greatest musicians in the jazz world at the time, it would not be able to survive a European tour that year due to lack of financial support.

The 1960s saw Jones begin to enter the industry side of the music world. Becoming vice president of Mercury Records in 1964, Jones also embarked on a lengthy career in film and television scoring during this time, beginning with 1964's 'The Pawnbroker.' Despite his increasingly busy schedule, he continued to release albums under his own name during this time period, several of which received widespread acclaim, in particular the Frank Sinatra/Count Basie collaboration 'It Might As Well Be Swing.' Jones' career took a substantial turn toward pop music starting in the 1970s. Moving into the world of production, Jones was responsible for producing the soundtrack to 1978's 'The Wiz.' This would bring him into professional contact with Michael Jackson; Jones would go on to produce Jackson's all time bestselling album 'Thriller' in 1982. In addition to these musical successes, Jones would become involved in more general entertainment production as well, where his labors would result in, among other things, the hit 1990s TV show 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.' Although Jones' pace has slowed in recent years, he continues to be one of the most heralded figures in the world of music. Some of the many honors he has received over the years include a Grammy's Legend Award, a BET Humanitarian Award, and an honorary doctorate from the Royal Academy of Music in London.