The Weeknd, Elton John lead tributes after Quincy Jones dies aged 91

Celebrity tributes are flowing in following the death of music legend Quincy Jones at age 91. The American record producer, songwriter and composer passed away at his home in Los Angeles on Sunday night local time, his publicist Arnold Robinson confirmed. However, his cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing,” the family said in a statement. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him.”

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Quincy’s illustrious career ranged from producing the albums ‘Off the Wall’, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’ for Michael Jackson in the 1980s, composing dozens of award-winning film scores, and collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer and more.

He was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won an Emmy, Tony and 28 Grammy Awards - placing him third in the list of all-time Grammy wins. He is also one of only 15 people to have received a Grammy Legend Award, was awarded the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama in 2011, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Quincy was married three times and has seven children, including actress Rashida Jones who is best known for starring in Parks and Recreation.

The Weeknd's sweet tribute to his 'idol'

Quincy’s collaborators and fans have taken to social media to mourn the industry legend, with The Weeknd sharing a sweet tribute on X, formerly Twitter.

“My fans know how important Quincy was to the fabric of my music. I was given the opportunity to write a foreword to his book and tried to capture what he meant to me as a human. Let’s celebrate his life today,” he wrote.

He also shared the two-page foreword he had written for Quincy's 2022 book, ‘12 Notes: On Life and Creativity’, where he described the musician as his “idol in every sense of the word”. The Weeknd wrote that Quincy changed the course of his life and he “nearly lost his mind” when he learned he had unexpectedly shown up at his performance in Las Vegas in 2015.

“As soon as I finished my last song, I could barely make it over to him fast enough. I was so laser-focused on meeting him (the reason why I even do music in the first place) that I barely even noticed there were fans on the other side of the stage screaming my name, trying to grab my attention,” he detailed.

“The first thing Q told me as I approached him was, ‘Go to your fans. Take pictures and sign autographs with them. I'll still be here waiting for you afterwards. They're more important’. Out of all the lessons I learned from watching his public interviews or listening to his productions for hours on end, that one piece of instruction proved to be more meaningful. At that moment, he was teaching me something that I will never forget. Nothing is more valuable than the people around me, and giving back is always better than receiving.”

Tributes flow for music 'titan'

Actor Michael Caine, who was born on the same day as Quincy on March 14, 1933, also shared a tribute on X, writing: “My celestial twin Quincy was a titan in the musical world. He was a wonderful and unique human being, lucky to have known him.”

“Nobody had a career as incredible as Quincy Jones. He played with the best and he produced the best. What a guy. Loved him,” Elton John posted, followed by Morgan Freeman who said, “Today, we say goodbye to the legendary Quincy Jones—a musical giant whose genius reshaped our world and left an enduring legacy. Rest well, Quincy”.

John Legend penned a lengthy tribute and said “We’re all so fortunate to live in a world made more beautiful by the music he created”.

Meanwhile, LL Cool J described Quincy as “a father and example at a time when I truly needed a father and example”, adding: “Mentor. Role model. King. You gave me opportunities and shared wisdom. Music would not be music without you. My condolences to the entire family. I love you. Rest in the sweetest music eternally.”

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Harry Connick Jr. revealed that Quincy was his “hero” on Instagram, writing: “Truly one of the greatest minds the music world has ever known. He was so kind to me, so wonderful, such an influence. His legacy and his music will live forever. Thank you for everything, Q. You were the dude.”

Former US president Bill Clinton also shared a statement, remarking: “Few people have ever matched Quincy Jones' impact on American and global culture.”

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