Quincy Jones, whose successful musical career spanned from the early 1950s to Michael Jackson’s best-known works and beyond, died Sunday. He was 91 years old.

His death was confirmed by his publicist in a statement to NPR, which did not specify the cause of death. The statement stated that Jones died peacefully at his home in Bel Air, surrounded by his family.

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of the passing of our father and brother, Quincy Jones,” the family said in a statement released by Jones’ publicist, Arnold Robinson. he said. “And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the wonderful life he lived and know there will never be anyone like him.”

In the 1980s, Jones helped orchestrate some of music’s biggest and best-loved moments: He produced or co-produced three of Michael Jackson’s best-selling albums, including 1982’s record-breaking album. Incomeand was heavily involved in the US production of Africa’s 1985 charity single “We Are the World”. But his career spanned decades in both directions. Jones long held the record for the most Grammy nominations with 80 Grammy nominations, before Jay-Z and Beyoncé surpassed the total earlier this decade, and her 28 wins rank her third behind Beyoncé (32) and conductor Georg Solti (31). took it.

Born Quincy Delight Jones in 1933, Jones got his start in jazz – playing trumpet in Lionel Hampton’s band at 19 – and was soon performing on stages with some of the world’s best-known stars: Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley.

In the 1960s, Jones became an award-winning film composer—collecting three of his seven Academy Award nominations in 1968 and ’69—as well as a high-profile music industry executive, arranger, and producer. In albums like The Big Wide World of Quincy Jones And Quincy Jones Plays Hip HitsHe starred but also worked behind the scenes, producing a number of best-selling hits for Lesley Gore (among others).

During the ’70s, Jones continued to stay in the spotlight as an artist and manager, expanding his reach with high-profile projects such as soundtracks. Wiz. But in the 1980s, his name appeared among a number of notable successes, including “We Are the World” and “We Are the World.” Income First step into film production: 1985’s Color PurpleThe one that made Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg movie stars. Jones’ star-studded back to the blockThe album, released in 1989, won the Grammy award for album of the year in 1991.

Jones’ achievements extended far beyond music and film. Shortly after founding Quincy Jones Entertainment in 1990, he was heading up long-running popular TV shows. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air And MADtv. His book dated 2001 Question: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones She detailed her many intersections with music’s biggest moments and stars, as well as her mental health struggles and difficult upbringing in Chicago. Jones’ philanthropic work has spread far beyond the United States and into Africa, benefiting causes such as music preservation, arts education and aid to impoverished youth.

Jones’ tumultuous personal life included three marriages and seven children, including actresses Kidada and Rashida Jones (his daughters with actress Peggy Lipton) and model Kenya Kinski-Jones, whose mother was German actress and model Nastassja Kinski.

NPR’s Ayana Archie contributed reporting.

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