BBC Radio 2's Jamie Cullum pays tribute to 'unique' Quincy Jones after death

Music and film icon Quincy Jones, who produced Michael Jackson's Thriller, died on Sunday night at his home in Los Angeles, and Jamie Cullum was among the celebrities paying tribute

Jamie Cullum has paid tribute to the late Quincy Jones, describing him as an artist of "incredible talent" and "charisma and passion" after his passing at the age of 91.

Quincy Jones' publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed that the legendary jazz musician and record producer passed away on Sunday night at his Bel Air home in Los Angeles, California, surrounded by family. The family expressed their desire to "celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him."

When asked if calling Jones a "legend" or "titan" was too much, Cullum, aged 45, told BBC News: "This is one of the cases where it’s entirely justified."

He continued: "It’s amazing to think you’re talking about one person, that amount of achievement, that amount of enthusiasm, and creative explosions throughout his career."

Cullum highlighted Jones' lifelong creativity, saying: "Not just in the early part, not just in the middle part, right up until the end of his life, he was still creating, still mentoring young artists, still creating ideas."

He added that Jones' remarkable career was "grounded by this incredible talent and expertise that he honed over many years."

Reflecting on his personal experiences with Jones, Cullum shared: "I was actually very lucky to meet him quite a few times in my career, at the Montreux Jazz Festival, which he used to go to every year and just support all the artists."

The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Quincy Jones, with tributes pouring in from celebrities who admired his immense talent and influence. "Not only would he perform there over the years, he would just be sitting side stage, not only the big gigs, but the little ones as well, checking out the artists, checking out who was coming through, who the new talents were."

Recalling a personal encounter, one star shared: "I got the great opportunity to interview him for Radio 2 in his house in Los Angeles, and chatted to him all afternoon about his career."

They added, "And it was just amazing to be in the presence of that much charisma and passion, just completely undimmed by time or any kind of cynicism."

Sir Michael Caine joined in the tributes, posting to X, formerly Twitter: "My Celestial twin Quincy was a titan in the musical world. He was a wonderful and unique human being, lucky to have known him."

DJ David Guetta hailed Jones as a "legend" on Instagram, expressing gratitude: "Thank you, Quincy, for all you’ve given us. Your legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists to come."

US actor Colman Domingo shared his awe on social media, saying he "kneeled because he was a King" upon meeting Jones. Nile Rodgers, co-founder of Chic and a friend of Jones, posted a video tribute, declaring: "Rest In Power Quincy Jones. The Greatest of All Time".

An emotional tribute on Bafta’s X page read: "Alongside an illustrious career in popular music, Jones also composed a huge number of film soundtracks including The Italian Job and turned his hand to producing for screen with The Colour Purple and The Fresh Prince of Bel Air."

Born on March 14 1933 in Chicago and raised in Seattle, Washington, the legendary Quincy Jones found his love for music early, tinkling the trumpet in junior high school and belting out gospel tunes in a quartet at just 12 years old. By the mid-1950s, the prodigious talent was arranging and recording for big names such as Ray Charles and Dinah Washington.

Switching up his game, Jones turned to the glitz of Hollywood, churning out iconic film scores and co-producing Steven Spielberg's rendition of Alice Walker’s masterpiece, The Color Purple, featuring powerhouse actors Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. This creative maverick didn't stop there; he later propelled into TV, breathing life into the hit sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, throwing Will Smith into the spotlight.

In 1989, Jones dropped the game-changing album 'Back On The Block', snagging the prestigious title of album of the year at the 1990 Grammy Awards it shook the music world. Earlier, Jones earned a nod for his cinematic genius, with an honorary Oscar poised to grace his hands at this year’s star-studded Governors Awards.

The jazz titan boasts seven Oscar nominations for silver screen masterpieces like In Cold Blood (1967) and, of course, The Color Purple (1985).

Quincy Jones isn't just about the music and movie bling; his trophy cabinet groans under the weight of an Emmy, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, a Tony, and a staggering 28 Grammys, etching him forever as a legend in entertainment history.

He's a legend in the entertainment world, boasting an EGOT status with a mix of competitive and honorary awards. Quincy Jones has worked with icons like Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Tony Bennett, and even the "King of Pop" Michael Jackson on his groundbreaking albums Off The Wall, Thriller, and Bad.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.