ended up in Paris and spent six years studying with the world ’ s premier composition and conducting instructor , Nadia Boulangé ! Then he made it back to the US and was hired by Mercury Records to handle A & R for their jazz division . One day at an A & R meeting he heard a singer with a character to her voice that he recognized potential in . Everybody passed on her , but Quincy asked if he could produce her . They were skeptical because she wasn ’ t a jazz singer but let him give it a try . The year was 1963 and the singer was Leslie Gore . The song was “ It ’ s My Party ,” and it was the first of 16 hit records they would make together ! And he became VP of Mercury Records — the first black VP for a record label ! Preparation , meet opportunity !
In 1964 , Quincy was called on by super-star crooner , Frank Sinatra to arrange and conduct his album , It Might as Well Be Swing . Frank loved Quincy ’ s work . In 1966 , Quincy was called on again to arrange and conduct the iconic Frank Sinatra album , Sinatra at the Sands with Count Basie Big Band in Las Vegas at the Sands Hotel and Casino . One of the songs , “ Fly Me to the Moon ” became an instant hit and was even played by the astronauts during the first landing on the moon . Several of the songs quickly became huge hits . Preparation , meet opportunity !
Quincy Jones was the first black VP for an American record label .
including In the Heat of the Night and In Cold the best-selling album ever and Quincy ’ s list of Blood ! Then came television . He composed Grammys , Academy Awards , and other honors the themes for Ironsides and Sanford & Sons is virtually never-ending . Preparation , meet as well as composing the score for Roots . And opportunity ! his music producing never stopped , resulting in Off the Wall , Thriller , and Bad , Michael IT ’ S ALL ABOUT LOVE Jackson ’ s biggest selling albums ! Thriller was The early years of rock and pop music garnered
Also in 1964 , Quincy left Mercury Records to become a film composer for Sidney Lumet ’ s hit movie , The Pawn Broker . After that , he composed the music for more than 30 movies ,
The ultimate in preparation meeting opportunity !
Michael Jackson ’ s Thriller sold over 100 million copies worldwide . This is hanging in Quincy ’ s pool room . Outside is a sweeping view of Hollywood from the top of Bel Air . Nice !