Quincy Jones the Press Club’S Visionary Award | by Ted Johnson
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2014 VISIONARY AWARD THE Q FACTOR A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP AND ACTIVISM EARNS QUINCY JONES THE PRESS CLUB’S VISIONARY AWARD | BY TED JOHNSON South Central to South Africa to meet Nelson he recent documentary Keep Mandela On Keepin’ On tells the story Below, left: We Are the PGBJMJOHZFBSPMEKB[[HSFBU World Clark Terry as he mentors a Tyoung blind jazz pianist, Justin Kaufin. Below: Quincy Jones 5FSSZTĕSTUTUVEFOUXBTBUIFOZFBS having a disco moment PME2VJODZ+POFT XIPBUJTBMTPPOF of the flm’s producers. Not only does the project recognize the importance of legacy in the jazz world, it refects one of Jones’ most famous quotes: “Imagine what a har- monious world it could be if every single person, both young and old, shared a little of what he is good at doing.” Over the decades Jones has shared a lot of what he is good at doing, from creat- ing hit records to producing “We Are the World,” which raised more than $63 mil- Quincy Jones with Lionel Hampton in the rear, Art Farmer, left, Walter WIlliams, right, 1950 lion. He has continued his eforts through his foundation with support for global children’s issues, civil rights, debt relief, malaria eradication and clean water, as well as calling attention to crises in disaster zones such as post-Katrina New Orleans “I’ve worked with the best, and I’ve and post-earthquake Haiti. never tried to chase celebrity,” Jones wrote Tis unmatched career of philanthropy in Q: Te Autobiography of Quincy Jones. and activism has earned Jones the Los “We just happened to stumble into each Angeles Press Club’s Visionary Award, other.” which he will accept tonight at the seventh Born in Chicago and raised in Seattle, annual National Arts & Entertainment Jones started pursuing music classes in Journalism Awards. school. He sang in a gospel quartet at age Jones has worked as a trumpeter, com- BOE XIFOIFXBT NFUBZFBSPME poser, arranger, producer and conduc- Ray Charles. Jones continued his studies tor. Few entertainment fgures have had at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, a life as deeply linked to so many other but dropped out when he got an opportu- legendary fgures in music, politics, the nity to tour with Lionel Hampton’s band as arts and international afairs. He describes a trumpeter, arranger and sometimes pia- Recording with Frank Sinatra, left; with the friendships, mentorships and working nist. He developed a particular skill as an Sammy Davis, Jr., above relationships as a kind of serendipity. Quincy Jones and band on the Free and Easy Tour, Paris, 1959 BSSBOHFSJOUIFTXIFO IBWJOHNPWFE LA 12 PC LA 13 PC 2014 VISIONARY AWARD to New York, he worked for artists includ- also taught Leonard Bernstein and Aaron ing Sarah Vaughan, Ray Charles, Count Copeland. To help make ends meet, Basie, Dinah Washington and Duke Jones took a job with Barclay Disques, Ellington. the French distributor for Mercury, put- "OPUIFSCSFBLDBNFJO XIFO ting him in contact with even more art- he studied with Nadia Boulanger, who ists, among them Charles Aznavour and Jacques Brel. Around that time, he got Alice Walker, Steven a call from Grace Kelly’s ofce, asking Spielberg, and Jones on the set of Jones to play an event with Frank Sinatra. The Color Purple It was the start of a 40-year friendship. “This man was like from another planet,” Jones said at a Canadian music event this year. “I cannot tell you about the experiences we had. It was unbelievable.” Te frst song he arranged for Sinatra was “Fly Me to the Moon.” It was the Chairman of the Board who gave Jones his nickname, Q. INSPIRED BY KING As Jones’ role in music grew, he became more active on social causes. During Working with this period he got involved in Martin MIchael Jackson Luther King’s Operation Breadbasket, and Steven which worked to improve the economic Spielberg, development of African-American com- recording the E.T., The Extraterrestrial munities. After King’s assassination, album Jones joined Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Opera- tion PUSH, and along with other board members founded the Institute for Black American Music. “I had never been that political before, but following the mule-drawn wagon car- rying Dr. King’s casket through the streets of Memphis in a crowd of thousands pushed me right to the edge,” he wrote Jones, with Stedman Graham, Oprah Winfrey and Jack Nicholson for “An African Reunion” On right, the ofce of a busy young man LA 14 PC 2014 VISIONARY AWARD in his autobiography. He received death Mozambique and the Ivory Coast saw threats for his political involvement, even about $27 billion in debt erased. though much of his work was organizing Jones continued his eforts with the variety shows with performers such as We Are the Future initiative in 2004, Stevie Wonder and the Supremes. organizing a concert featuring Josh “Black artists have always been forced Groban, Carlos Santana, Alicia Keyes to walk the thin line between what is politically acceptable for them to say and what is not,” Jones wrote. “My entire “My entire career, indeed career, indeed my entire life, has been based on trying to break down the walls my entire life, has been between people of all colors throughout the world.” based on trying to break Another way he broke down walls was down the walls between with “We Are the World.” Te song, in Congratulations to our many ways an American response to the people of all colors British “Do Tey Know It’s Christmas?,” was intended to raise money and call throughout the world.” attention to the Ethiopian famine. Afer Harry Belafonte and Ken Kragen sought and others; the proceeds helped establish good friend Q on a U.S. version, Jones gathered the talent, child care centers in developing countries. bringing together just about every major His Project Q, an initiative with the American artist to record the single. Harvard School of Public Health’s Center The effort not only raised millions for Health Communication, awards the and won Grammys (and produced a Q Prize to fgures who provide resources receiving the memorable music video), but it set a to young people to achieve their full new standard for celebrity involvement potential. in humanitarian eforts. One unrealized (as yet) Jones idea is That standard applied to Jones as for the White House to establish a cabinet- well. He has said that “We Are the level Secretary of the Arts, which is what World” focused him and others on the connects so much of Jones’ professional need for close coordination with non- and philanthropic life. Magic and Cookie governmental organizations, particularly Te idea, said Jones, is to elevate the Visionary Award. in the distribution of funds, as well as in importance of the arts in education, civic the engagement of world leaders. life and activism. While it looks like a Top: visiting singer Billy Eckstine ćBUXBTUIFDBTFJO XIFO+POFT long shot in the current gridlock of Wash- Johnson Above: accepting the Jean Hersholt joined Bono and Bob Geldof in a meeting ington, the key to making it happen may Humanitarian Award at the 1996 Academy with Pope John Paul II to discuss third be to heed another piece of Jones’ advice. Awards ceremony world debt relief. With the pope pledging He relayed it in a recent interview: “You his support, countries including Bolivia, just got to try it.” Below: an armful of Grammy Awards in 1990 Christina “Tina” Sinatra—Visionary Award Presenter Producer, theatrical agent and Los Angeles native Tina Sinatra is the youngest child of famed crooner Frank Sinatra and Nancy Barbato. In the spotlight from an early age, her career has spanned music, television, flm and books. Sinatra performed on episodes of “It Takes a Thief” and “Mannix,” and in 1992 served as executive producer of the television miniseries “Sinatra,” about her father’s life and career. She served as a producer on the 2004 remake of the 1962’s The Manchurian Candidate, which her father originally starred in opposite Angela Lansbury, and in 2000 published the memoir My Father’s Daughter. Sinatra continued to work in the entertainment industry becoming a theatrical agent under Arnold Stiefel. She will be introducing Quincy Jones for his award. 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