Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones

by Quincy Jones

Book Overview

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - "One of the most prolific and revered producers in music history" (Rolling Stone) recounts his moving life story and decades working alongside superstars like Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, and dozens of others.

" Jones] was orchestrating the sound of America, complicating it while grasping what makes it pop. . . . His music opens one of the most-watched...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767905105
• ISBN13: 9780767905107
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

As masterful as Quincy Jones' arrangements: A classic

The autobiography of Quincy Jones is like one of his arrangements: masterful, engaging on several levels, and state-of the-art. Jones' life story seems MADE for a highly dramatic, award-winning t.v. or big screen movie -- and I dearly hope it'll be made into one. Musician. Producer. Businessman. Composer. Arranger. Determination and incredible talent skyrocketing him over big obstacles. It's fitting that Jones' biggest passion is music because this outstanding autobiography truly SINGS. From the first pages, you're thrust into the drama -- and challenge -- of Jones' life. Born into a poor family, throughout most of his life (well into his adult years) Jones struggled with how to cope-with and at times how to distance himself from a mother who suffered from severe mental illness. Music became his savior and Jones embraced it like the stable motherly love which he sought and he lacked as a child. He embraced Mother Music, letting it's beauty embrace, comfort and sustain him. There are several things that sets this book apart from other show biz bios and makes it such sheer JOY for readers of ALL ages (old fogies like me who grew up with his music as well as young folks interested in music, interested in biographies or interested in show business and the arts in general):1.PANORAMIC STYLE. There is so much in it that we can only list a little here, such as the poignant vignette of a young, arts-smitten Jones, just discovering his musical "chops" and bonding with a blind teenage musician named Ray Charles who basically mentored and inspired him; his later associations with greats such as Sammy Davis Jr, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and many many more. Jackson, he writes, "wanted to be the best of everything" so he "went to the top model in each (show biz) category to create an act and a persona that would be unequalled." But "somehow later on the line between the reality and the fantasy got blurred." In the end, Jones writes, Jackson became "a total sponge, a chamelon." Jackson practiced hours and hours to perfect every single move, gesture and facial expression. I am haunted by Jones' portrait of Sinatra. For all the tough-guy accounts elsewhere, Sinatra comes across as a noble and principled human being -- cooking Jones breakfast when he learned that Jones stayed up all night working; insisting that African-American musicians for his Vegas concert be allowed to play and get good rooms at a casino and telling his security to do significant bodily harm to any racists who harrassed them, even the slightest bit.2)SECOND VOICES. Not all chapters are written by Jones. He also let others write their accounts about parts of his life, and not all of this material is complimentary. This adds a documentary feel and a sense of balance that most show business autobiographies lack.3)USEFUL OBSERVATIONS. In his chapter on Michael Jackon's rise to the top of the music heap he notes that writes that he learned that "Nobody stays at the

Incredibly entertaining & moving story of an incredible life

There aren't words to describe how important this book is. It isn't enough to say that every musician and American music enthusiast should have a copy of this in their libraries. This book should be standard issue in every college American history and music course across America. Unlike any other biographies or history books I have read of such a profoundly gifted, loving, courageous and culturally significant man, Paul Duberman's biography of Paul Robeson, the Autobiography of Malcolm X, and this book of Q's stand as the three most important books of any kind to read. Simply to truly understand the history of America and American music in the 20th century, the African American multifaceted soul, and the National American psyche. Few lives have had the impact on the 20th Century as Quincy Jones' had. Few people on earth and in history can say that their life so threads through the cultural fabric of an entire people and time--internationally speaking--that understanding them, is essentially understanding the entire world from which you come. This man is extraordinary. I had no idea just to what degree, despite all that I thought I knew of him, before reading this book. And this book, as entertaining as a good novel, as informative and eye-opening as a detective story or inside source history book, is destined to become a classic of American letters. God bless him. Play on Q; play on!

Q is The Man!

I've been waiting for this Book for the longest time.Quincy Jones what a Music Mind & Person?He really overcame so much & Yet kept His Cool.a First Class Cat.He has Worked with the Best.You Name them Q has been there.Ray Charles,Billy Eckstine,Clark Terry,Count Basie,Frank Sinatra,Michael Jackson among others that He has Worked with.Incredible.this Book deals with many topics & deals with things Head On.with Quincy Jones You feel the Soul & Depth.Enjoy

the most important and powerful musicians of our time

Q, The Autobiography of Quincy Jones has been an awesome, page turning read! Most would use a journey of writing their biography to embarrass and annoy friends and family, Quincy just tells it like it is. One of the things I love is the ability to show the readers that he is human and has flaws. Despite issues with his mother and the countless women in and out of his life, he realized that only HE could be the one to make a difference in his life. The other thing I love best is his incorporating dialogue of close friends and family in the book, which only speaks to the kind of man he is. Loyal. Finally, I think the book teaches us to rise above our circumstances. Come what may. Quincy Jones, truely is a living legend.....

Great book!

Quincy Jones embodies the best of what it means to be fully human. He's always been on the cutting edge, at least a generation ahead of everyone else: in movies, in theater, in television, and, of course, in music. Now, in the disguise of an artist, he transcends art into healing. This is a great book and works on so many different levels: as intimate biography, as powerful literature, and the story of one who transcended suffering into healing. And what an interesting life! But this is more than just a fascinating story. He offers a wise roadmap to self-discovery and wholeness, both individually and culturally. Read it and be inspired by his courage and wisdom. Somehow, the corrosive idea that the evil guy is interesting and the good guy is boring has entered popular culture, especially in rap and hip-hop. Only an artist of Quincy Jones' stature could show by extraordinary example even to the most angry and dispossessed that it is possible to be both loving and cool, generous and hip, selfless and self-fulfilled--and that it's a lot more fun and exciting to live this way. Come for the music and stay for the love.