Example Of Report On Contributions

Biography Report: Quincy JonesIntroduction Jazz music became popular in the 20th century and that is thanks to some jazz musicians who made this genre rise to the top. One of the musicians who became an influential figure in this world of music is Quincy Jones. Named  by Time Magazine as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th century, Quincy Jones is an all around American music icon who was born on March 14, 1933 in the south side of Chicago, but was brought up in Seattle. At a young age, he showed his love for music and started studying the trumpet at junior high and sang in the gospel choir at 12 years old. He continued his musical studies at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. Quincy remained there until he got the opportunity to tour with Lionel Hampton's band as a trumpeter, arranger, and sometimes a pianist. He moved on to New York and the musical “big leagues” in 1951 where his reputation as an arranger grew. By the mid-50’s, he was arranging and recording for such diverse artists as, Ray Charles, LeVern Baker, Cannonball Adderly, Dinah Washington, Big Maybelle, Duke Ellington, Count Basie,and Sarah Vaughan (“About”).

Quincy continued to become a known jazz musician in the next years as he produced songs for artists and came out with jazz music that would be known in the next years to come. He had a lot of contributions, both in the world of jazz music and in the humanitarian aspects as he used his talent and love for jazz music to help other people. Quincy Jones is one of the founders of the Institute for Black American Music (IBAM). The goal of this group is to raise funds for the creation of a national library for African-American art and music. He is also one of the founders of the Black Arts Festival in his hometown, Chicago.
In 1970, he created the Quincy Jones Workshop where he educates the inner city youth about the field of musicianship, acting, and songwriting. Another contribution that he made is being the founder of Quincy Jones Listen Up Foundation. This foundation helps build more than 100 homes in South Africa and aims to connect youths with technology, education, culture, and music.
In 2001, Quincy became an honorary member of the board of directors of the Jazz Foundation of America where he worked with them to save the homes and lives of America's elderly jazz and blues musicians, including those who survived Hurricane Katrina.
In music and Hollywood, he was soon embraced as the first black composer and has helped refresh movie music with infusions of jazz and soul.

Influence to Artists of Before and Today

Quincy Jones is known to be a musical genius who is an inventor of musical hybrids as he "shuffled pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performance, movies and television" (qtd. in “About”)
As a composer, musician, and record producer, Quincy has helped and guided various artists in their careers. For instance, in his popular 1989 album Back On The Block, he brought legends together to create the first fusion of the bebop and hip hop musical traditions. Some of those legends that united together to produce this award-winning album are:, , Sarah Vaughan and Miles Davis, Big Daddy Kane, Melle Mel, Ice T, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dizzy Gillespie.
He also became the producer and conductor of Michael Jackson's single We Are The Wordd, which became the best-selling song of all time. Quincy also produced Michael Jackson’s multi-platinum solo albums, Bad, Off The Wall, and Thriller, which became the best selling album of all time and sold more than 50 million copies.
In 1985, it was evident that he has a lot of influence on numerous artists. He was able to use his influence and connections to convince many artists to record the song We Are The World to " to raise money for the victims of Ethiopia's famine. To ensure that all of these big artists would be able to work together, Jones taped a sign on the entrance to the studio that said: "Check Your Ego at the Door.” (qtd. in. “Quincy Jones Biography”)
Another album that showed Quincy's talents of molding unique talents in one group is the 1995 album, Q’s Jook Joint and "resulted in a retrospective of his broad and diverse career from that of a seasoned Jazz musician, to skilled composer, arranger, and bandleader, to acclaimed record producer" (qtd. in. “Quincy Jones Biography”).
Conclusion Indeed, Quincy Jones became a big influence for many artists before and today, even at the age of 80+ years old. He is still going strong and continues to be a big contribution to the world of music, especially in the jazz genre. Quincy also continues to get talents together in order to create albums and pieces that will help people in need. He is more than just a singer; he is also a humanitarian.

Works Cited

“About.” quincyjones.com. Quincy Jones, 2015.Web. 4 April 2015
< http://www.quincyjones.com/about/>
“Quincy Jones Biography.” rockhall.com. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum, Inc., 2015.
Web. 4 April 2015 < https://rockhall.com/inductees/quincy-jones/bio/>