Quincy Jones’ Most Iconic Songs: Remembering a Legendary 28-Time Grammy Winner

The world said goodbye to legendary 28-time Grammy-winning music producer Quincy Jones this past weekend and while you may know the name, you might not know Jones was responsible for producing some of your favorite songs. 

Jones has worked with massive artists such as Frank Sinatra, Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson and Aretha Franklin on some of their most popular tunes, as well as big band legends like Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Count Basie. Jones also composed several film scores, including the memorable score for In the Heat of the Night, a film that earned him critical acclaim.

As Jones put it, a producer has one of the biggest roles in the making of music. “If an album doesn’t do well everyone says ‘it was the producer’s fault,’ so if it does well, it should be your fault too,” Jones said. “The tracks don’t just all of a sudden appear. The producer has to have the skill, experience and ability to guide the vision to completion.”

See which of your favorite soundtracks Quincy Jones was responsible for bringing to life. 

1. “Thriller” — Michael Jackson (1982)

It’s an instant classic, especially when spooky season rolls around and this track gets a ton of listens. But did you know Quincy Jones was the man behind the entire album? The track only rose to No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, it has since become a cultural phenomenon and a cult classic. 

“What came next with ‘Thriller’, I don’t think any of us were ready for,” Jones shared in an interview. “Michael, the music and MTV all took it to the stratosphere. It was the perfect convergence of forces. When ‘Thriller’ came out, it chewed up everything in its way.” 

2. “Fly Me To The Moon” — Frank Sinatra and Count Basie (1964)

This track became the first song to be played on the moon, which is an accomplishment in itself. But the song was a hit itself and one for Jones and the artists to be proud of. 

Originally, Jones had recorded with Count Basie, but then he was approached by Frank Sinatra about recording with him. 

“I recorded it with Count Basie in four-four time…Sinatra said, ‘I like it the way you did it with Basie, the four-four. Would you consider doing that with me and him?’ I said, ‘Hell to the yeah!’…Frank died when he heard it, man. I was so happy because, really, that was my first thing for him. I was 29, you know? Those guys were in their 50s and 60s.”

3. “Billie Jean” — Michael Jackson (1982)

This No. 1 track is just one of the many Michael Jackson hits that Quincy Jones is responsible for. The entirety of the Thriller album was a massive success, and “Billie Jean” was one of the most popular. The song spent seven weeks in the No. 1 slot and stayed on the charts for 25 weeks total. 

“It’s no accident that more than three decades later no matter where I go in the world, in every club, like clockwork at the witching hour you hear “Billie Jean…” Jones explained about the song. 

4. “You Don’t Own Me” — Lesley Gore (1963)

This smash hit from Lesley Gore became not only a success but a feminist anthem. “You Don’t Own Me” reached No. 2 on the Hot 100 chart and was a huge deal for Gore. When Gore first heard the song, she immediately shared it with Jones, who Gore said loved it just as much as she did. 

5. “Man in the Mirror” — Michael Jackson (1987)

“Man in the Mirror,” which was released on the final album Jones and Jackson worked on together, was a massive success, similar to other songs they released. Following the triumph of the Thriller album, it was no surprise when this track rose to No. 1 on the charts for two weeks. 

“All the turmoil [in Jackson’s life] was starting to mount up, so I said I thought it was time for him to do a very honest album writing all the songs,” Jones shared. “I suggested that for Bad.”