Hollywood A-lister Will Smith emotionally paid tribute online to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s own Quincy Jones, following the award-winning producer and composer’s death on Sunday, Nov. 3. Smith, who was not by any means a full-fledged actor when he began his run on NBC’s Fresh Prince sitcom, landed his own on-screen character in no small part thanks to Jones. Smith shared his emotional tribute to Jones on social media via his Instagram account:
“Quincy Jones is the true definition of a Mentor, a Father and a Friend. He pointed me toward the greatest parts of myself. He defended me. He nurtured me. He encouraged me. He inspired me. He checked me when he needed to. He let me use his wings until mine were strong enough to fly.”
Today, Smith is an Oscar-winning performer (Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role, King Richard). However, back in 1990 when The Fresh Prince began its TV run, Smith’s only meaningful acting experience came in the music videos he made as a part of hip hop’s dynamic duo known as DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.
However, as Smith honed his acting craft on television, Hollywood eventually beckoned. In 1995, The Fresh Prince star became part of another iconic duo, as the up-and-coming thespian joined forces with Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys. More influential roles in cinema followed, including Independence Day (1996), Men in Black (1997) and Ali (2001), which helped Smith officially become the toast of Tinseltown. And Jones was one of those who helped the youngster along on his small and Silver Screen journey.
Quincy Jones Leaves Behind a Legendary Legacy
91-year-old Quincy Jones died on Sunday, Nov. 3, at his home in Los Angeles. And if the acclaimed artisan’s career had only centered around producing Michael Jackson’s hit album Thriller and Will Smith’s TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Jones still would have gone down in the history books for his contributions to the music and television industries.
However, the enduring legacy Jones left behind was one brimming with accolades. But for the Jones family, his passing was a deeply personal loss, which they addressed in a statement released by the late producer’s representative, Arnold Robinson, (per Variety):
“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him. He is truly one of a kind and we will miss him dearly.
We take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created. Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones’ heart will beat for eternity.”
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Jones, who was born in Chicago, won a total of 28 GRAMMYS during the course of his illustrious career. And it’s a prestigious honor to have walked away with that many statues of the famed gramophone. In fact, only two musical artists have won more times than Jones did. As of the 2024 ceremony, Beyoncé has 32 GRAMMYS to her name, while conductor Georg Solti accumulated 31 of his own.
The trophy case Jones put together also included an Oscar (Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award), and he will posthumously receive another Academy Award (Honorary) at the 2025 ceremony. Additionally, Jones won a Primetime Emmy for his memorable work on the TV miniseries Roots (Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Series – Dramatic Underscore) and a Tony in 2016 for The Color Purple (Best Revival of a Musical). So, where legacies are concerned, few are more laden with hardware than Quincy Jones amassed.
- Release Date
- September 10, 1990
- Cast
- Will Smith , James Avery , Tatyana Ali , Joseph Marcell , alfonso ribeiro , Karyn Parsons , Daphne Reid
- Seasons
- 6