Quincy Jones Exclusive Video Interview: “Joe Jackson Is a Liar”
Quincy Jones–he’s one of my heroes, I won’t beat around the bush. Long before he hooked up with Michael Jackson, Q was an all-star musician and composer. He produced the likes of Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles, besides leading his own band around the world.
Quincy’s new album, “Soul Bossa Nostra,” features tons of today’s stars reinterpreting his music. John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Snoop Dogg are all on it. I am partial to a track he did with Mary J. Blige called “Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me,” an update of a 1981 number he did with Stevie Wonder and Patti Austin. It’s the best Mary J has ever sounded.
The album is accompanied by a book called “Q on Producing.” If you’re even slightly interested in popular music of the last 40 years, this book is a gift. It’s also a great holiday item for coffee tables, as long as you read it. I’ve devoured it.
That Quincy is not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is one of the great shames of that organization. But he doesn’t care, and he doesn’t need it.
It was Q–not to diminish Michael Jackson–who made “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” and “Bad” happen. Don’t worry, he gives Michael a lot of credit, all due credit, as a songwriter. But producers are a special thing: they create the sound. Quincy brought 25 years of musical sophistication with him when he and Michael Jackson hooked up. He told me, as you’ll see that “Joe Jackson is a liar” when he says he was always in the studio with Michael. And still, as Quincy notes, “No one from that family has ever thanked me.”
We thank you, Q! Rock on!
PS Quincy still holds out hope of prroducing a long in the wings Stevie Wonder-Tony Bennett album–a project I announced a couple of years ago. Q is ready, guys. Let’s go!
A.G.
Since when have sales anything to do with creativity or innovation? Jackson certainly started this “complete PR package” stuff, that is for sure. Listening in to the new album it just proves that Jackson strong period was in the 80s and not now and not 10 years ago. The new album displays the same strengths and weaknesses basically, but no significant musical development.
Nádia
Just a summary: Quincy Jones Michael Jackson no, probably not much.
Michael Jackson with or without Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson has always been and will remain forever.
And Quincy Jones will spend the rest of his life talking about Michael Jackson and trying to diminish it. When I die, some will remember him as a producer of Michael Jackson.
With or without Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson shines …
Sm Qincy Michael Jackson does not exist.
This is it.
Lexie
Quincy, were you not in the Grammy’s when Mike repeatedly said Thank You to you??? You EARNED from whatever endeavor u had with MJ. Did the wife and children of Frank Sinatra say thank you to you? And hello…TC Kirkham… Which stone did u crawl out from? You honestly think that MJ was a flogged out singer before Quincy Jones??? IF Quincy is such a great creator of Entertainers, who did he create after mike? Long after Mike parted ways with him, he still kept on thanking him. Your ego, Mr Jones is too big to contain! For ONCE, can you p,ease be honest and accept that Michael Jackson is indeed a genius???