My "memos" are, I realize, mostly political or sociological in nature but this one, I assure you, is not. It's about Quincy Jones, the legendary entertainment producer, whose life and career has spanned decades.
Jones is one of my personal heroes. I look at his life and wonder, "How the hell did he do it?" He was born a black man in 1930s Chicago and through talent, hard work, determination, and never giving up, became one of the most powerful men in the history of show business (as white an exclusive a business as any). He knew and worked with everyone, from Leni Reifenstahl and Frank Sinatra to Steven Speilberg and Kendrick Lamar. His career spans from the big band era of music to rap.
What I really admire is how he's not done only one thing but lots of things in his life: he's a producer, a composer, a musician, a business man -- you name it. He ever produced movies and TV shows (like Mad TV).
It's an amazing, almost defies belief life and career.
Jones is one of my personal heroes. I look at his life and wonder, "How the hell did he do it?" He was born a black man in 1930s Chicago and through talent, hard work, determination, and never giving up, became one of the most powerful men in the history of show business (as white an exclusive a business as any). He knew and worked with everyone, from Leni Reifenstahl and Frank Sinatra to Steven Speilberg and Kendrick Lamar. His career spans from the big band era of music to rap.
What I really admire is how he's not done only one thing but lots of things in his life: he's a producer, a composer, a musician, a business man -- you name it. He ever produced movies and TV shows (like Mad TV).
It's an amazing, almost defies belief life and career.
You must, must read this massive interview he did with GQ magazine, where Jones talks about all this and more. He's 84 years old and has a story about everyone and everything. He talks a little bit about his time in NYC as well -- apparently he did a lot of drugs here.
You might also want to listen to this story by comedian Artie Lange about the time he asked Quincy Jones about Frank Sintara when Jones was producing MadTV. It provides a hilarious view on Quincy's approach to life. You can't make this stuff up.
You might also want to listen to this story by comedian Artie Lange about the time he asked Quincy Jones about Frank Sintara when Jones was producing MadTV. It provides a hilarious view on Quincy's approach to life. You can't make this stuff up.
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