Quincy Jones and others RIP

Quincy Jones, who has died aged 91, has rightly received plaudits from many within the world of music. As a producer, composer, arranger and conductor he is best known for his work with Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson, and for his jazz productions and film scores. But in a career that spanned over 70 years what stands out to me is his work with Ray Charles, who he met when he was just 14, and Lesley Gore, whose Mercury recordings he produced from 1963 to 1966. Quincy toured with the Lionel Hampton band in 1953 and went on to work with Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and many other jazz stars of the fifties and sixties. His 'Soul Bossa Nova', released in 1962, went on to be featured in the Austin Powers movies, and his number one smash with Lesley Gore's 'It's My Party' began a run of hits with her for Mercury. He produced hits for Ray Charles, including 'One Mint Julep', and wrote the score for 'In The Heat Of The Night', which includes Ray Charles' haunting title theme, and many other soundtracks, including 'The Italian Job' and 'In Cold Blood'. His production credits included a gospel album with Little Richard, and albums by Billy Eckstine, Billy Preston, Aretha Franklin and the Brothers Johnson. He achieved his greatest success as producer of the Michael Jackson albums 'Off The Wall, 'Thriller' and 'Bad'.

Best known as a singer of easy listening pop material Jack Jones, who died recently aged 86, recorded dozens of albums in a career which began in 1959. His early hits included 'Lollipops and Roses', 'Wives and Lovers' and 'Dear Heart' but he showed that he could rock it up a bit with records such as George Jones's 'The Race Is On' and 'Love Bug'.

Another recent death is that of rockabilly artist Bill 'Peg Pants' Beach, aged 92. He recorded for King in the late fifties - his best known song being 'Peg Pants' - and toured Europe during the 1980s rockabilly revival. Also folk and blues singer and activist Barbara Dane, aged 97. She was interviewed by Garth Cartwright for The Guardian shortly before her death and the article, and subsequent obituary, is well worth seeking out.