"the Ghetto Gump"
January 31, 2018 2:02 AM Subscribe
Quincy Jones Has a Story About That Frank Sinatra. Michael Jackson. Ray Charles. Malcolm X. Elon Musk. Truman Capote. Buzz Aldrin. Prince. Tupac. Even Leni Riefenstahl. Quincy Jones has run with them all.
His 2001 autobiography Q has many more great tales if you’re interested. (At times, Jones even lets his friends and relatives tell their side of his story.) It’s a companion piece to Q the 4-CD musical biography, which came out at the same time, with tracks from Lionel Hampton and Gene Krupa all the way to Ice-T and Kool Moe Dee. Truly a remarkable life.
posted by LeLiLo at 3:44 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by LeLiLo at 3:44 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
And that's why Quincy Jones is The Most Interesting Man in the World.
posted by cheshyre at 4:41 AM on January 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by cheshyre at 4:41 AM on January 31, 2018 [9 favorites]
Instant 'to be read' click. But my favorite Quincy Jones thing is he helped make Rashida Jones. And because of her, we all got to know Leslie Knope for a while.
posted by DigDoug at 5:30 AM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by DigDoug at 5:30 AM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
He seems to have a no-apologies, no-regrets attitude toward life, and I suspect I'd find him to be an insufferable asshole if I had to put up with him, but hell if he hasn't lived ten lifetimes of incredible stories. This is a great interview.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:54 AM on January 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by uncleozzy at 5:54 AM on January 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
In my experience with people who've made their fortunes in behind-the-scenes roles, they are talented at making people feel good that they're around; in a way, they're like couturiers of music or theater rather than of fashion, and they have to be skilled at handling the egos of powerful people while bearing the responsibility of the outcomes. So I don't know whether I'd like Jones enough to befriend him -- it's a crazy hypothetical since we'll never cross paths anyway -- but I'm pretty certain that if we were to spend time in the same room I'd find him anything but insufferable.
posted by ardgedee at 6:14 AM on January 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 6:14 AM on January 31, 2018 [5 favorites]
Quincy Jones produced Thriller.
This is roughly equivalent to painting the Mona Lisa.
What is maybe not so well known is that is not actually his masterpiece. He also painted the Last Supper.
Ai no correda. Your wish is my command.
posted by bukvich at 6:34 AM on January 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is roughly equivalent to painting the Mona Lisa.
What is maybe not so well known is that is not actually his masterpiece. He also painted the Last Supper.
Ai no correda. Your wish is my command.
posted by bukvich at 6:34 AM on January 31, 2018 [7 favorites]
His facebook feed is pretty great, just dropping these little stories about once a week or so.
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:37 AM on January 31, 2018
posted by Capt. Renault at 6:37 AM on January 31, 2018
Ok, you're a perfectionist. Flashes of Quincy.
posted by tobascodagama at 6:41 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by tobascodagama at 6:41 AM on January 31, 2018 [1 favorite]
I see he has a NO FAT CHICKS policy.
posted by thelonius at 7:42 AM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 7:42 AM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
An icepick in the left temple as a kid -- that's pretty much what you need to know about all the 'motherfuckers', the "LL QJ", and so many other things.
posted by jamjam at 9:16 AM on January 31, 2018
posted by jamjam at 9:16 AM on January 31, 2018
One of those people where you know they must be stretching the truth of some of it, but whose actual life and career is so much it would be entirely impossible to call him on anything.
I also think he might be a hard guy to hang out with past a certain point but up to that point it would be fantastic.
posted by atoxyl at 9:40 AM on January 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
I also think he might be a hard guy to hang out with past a certain point but up to that point it would be fantastic.
posted by atoxyl at 9:40 AM on January 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
For some reason, as much as Quincy Jones has accomplished in his life and as fascinating as he is, the first three things I think of when I think of Quincy are:
1. Dude, he composed "The Streetbeater".
2. Damn, he got to be married to Norma Jennings.
3. And then they produced Rashida Jones. How amazing is that?
Sorry Quincy.
posted by elsietheeel at 9:48 AM on January 31, 2018
1. Dude, he composed "The Streetbeater".
2. Damn, he got to be married to Norma Jennings.
3. And then they produced Rashida Jones. How amazing is that?
Sorry Quincy.
posted by elsietheeel at 9:48 AM on January 31, 2018
Icepick in the temple AFTER having his hand nailed to a fencepost. At age 7.
And that isn't even included in the list of the "three specific moments in Quincy Jones's life when it seems almost miraculous that fate allowed him to continue."
Plans on living to age 120.
"Elon Musk was my neighbor for ten years. Great guy, man. He's a fearless motherfucker. Every week we'd have two or three dinners with Zuckerberg and Sergey Brin and all those cats. Jeffrey Bezos."
Bought drugs off Malcolm X. Lived next door to Picasso. Planned to be at Sharon Tate's house the night of the Manson murders, but forgot to go.
It's good to be reminded every now and then how we all inhabit our own (sometimes very different) universes. Even if 90% of the stories are BS, what a life.
posted by sapere aude at 10:23 AM on January 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
And that isn't even included in the list of the "three specific moments in Quincy Jones's life when it seems almost miraculous that fate allowed him to continue."
Plans on living to age 120.
"Elon Musk was my neighbor for ten years. Great guy, man. He's a fearless motherfucker. Every week we'd have two or three dinners with Zuckerberg and Sergey Brin and all those cats. Jeffrey Bezos."
Bought drugs off Malcolm X. Lived next door to Picasso. Planned to be at Sharon Tate's house the night of the Manson murders, but forgot to go.
It's good to be reminded every now and then how we all inhabit our own (sometimes very different) universes. Even if 90% of the stories are BS, what a life.
posted by sapere aude at 10:23 AM on January 31, 2018 [4 favorites]
There's a film about him from 1990 that sort of sank without trace but is available on YouTube - Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones. To achieve what he has and still be liked by everyone who works with him and still be smiling is remarkable. Plus the Rashida Jones thing, which was less obvious in 1990.
posted by YoungStencil at 11:06 AM on January 31, 2018
posted by YoungStencil at 11:06 AM on January 31, 2018
Fascinating stories, talented guy, but, Jesus, rather a pig on the topic of women, yeah?
"'I got me some technology out there'—he gestures to the mansion's perimeter—'that keep fat and old away from here. Buzzes if they're too old.'"
I mean, yeah, he's of another time, but given he plays to his sophisticated, worldly, multilingual, bon vivant-ness, you'd think he could chuck the "no fat chicks" material.
posted by the sobsister at 12:01 PM on January 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
"'I got me some technology out there'—he gestures to the mansion's perimeter—'that keep fat and old away from here. Buzzes if they're too old.'"
I mean, yeah, he's of another time, but given he plays to his sophisticated, worldly, multilingual, bon vivant-ness, you'd think he could chuck the "no fat chicks" material.
posted by the sobsister at 12:01 PM on January 31, 2018 [8 favorites]
i mean, an obvious misogynist, yes, and that's really unfortunate, given his daughter's current involvement with #TimesUp. But what a life.
posted by numaner at 1:58 PM on January 31, 2018
posted by numaner at 1:58 PM on January 31, 2018
Planned to be at Sharon Tate's house the night of the Manson murders, but forgot to go.
Jerzy Kosinski was supposedly due to be there too; but his luggage got lost and he stayed in NYC.
posted by thelonius at 4:45 PM on January 31, 2018
Jerzy Kosinski was supposedly due to be there too; but his luggage got lost and he stayed in NYC.
posted by thelonius at 4:45 PM on January 31, 2018
And then they produced Rashida Jones. How amazing is that?
Which reminds me Kidada Jones was engaged to Tupac at the time of his death, all of which gives me just a bit of... what I imagine people who into, say, the British royal family feel.
posted by atoxyl at 6:24 PM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
Which reminds me Kidada Jones was engaged to Tupac at the time of his death, all of which gives me just a bit of... what I imagine people who into, say, the British royal family feel.
posted by atoxyl at 6:24 PM on January 31, 2018 [2 favorites]
who are into - I'm really bad at typing things that make sense today
posted by atoxyl at 6:38 PM on January 31, 2018
posted by atoxyl at 6:38 PM on January 31, 2018
I also think he might be a hard guy to hang out with past a certain point but up to that point it would be fantastic.
Maybe he's different in real life from how he is in the interview, but, yeah, judging by what's here, he'd become a tedious, grandiose braggart pretty soon. If you've ever spent significant time with a truly highly talented person who will not let up with talking about how great they are, you know what I mean. Eventually it doesn't matter to you how extraordinary they are; you just want them to go away.
posted by thelonius at 10:47 PM on January 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
Maybe he's different in real life from how he is in the interview, but, yeah, judging by what's here, he'd become a tedious, grandiose braggart pretty soon. If you've ever spent significant time with a truly highly talented person who will not let up with talking about how great they are, you know what I mean. Eventually it doesn't matter to you how extraordinary they are; you just want them to go away.
posted by thelonius at 10:47 PM on January 31, 2018 [3 favorites]
A new interview, with Vulture. These stories are fine, but some seem too good to check.
posted by Going To Maine at 9:20 AM on February 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Going To Maine at 9:20 AM on February 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
I love how he lays a major dis on Ringo's drumming and then adds, "Good guy, though."
posted by tobascodagama at 9:56 AM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by tobascodagama at 9:56 AM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Elon Musk keeps trying to get me to go to Burning Man. No thank you.
i'm dying over here, send help
posted by runt at 12:35 PM on February 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
i'm dying over here, send help
posted by runt at 12:35 PM on February 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
A new interview, with Vulture.
I'm like 2/3 of the way through that and I'm still not convinced that this isn't a parody interview. It's completely batshit.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:54 PM on February 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm like 2/3 of the way through that and I'm still not convinced that this isn't a parody interview. It's completely batshit.
posted by uncleozzy at 12:54 PM on February 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Richard Pryor's Widow Confirms He Slept with Marlon Brando
posted by Artw at 2:10 PM on February 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Artw at 2:10 PM on February 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
Well now I'm really never eating butter again.
posted by elsietheeel at 3:48 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by elsietheeel at 3:48 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
2. Damn, he got to be married to Norma Jennings.
I don't know who that is, but his other partner Nastassja Kinski caught me eye.
posted by msalt at 8:10 PM on February 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't know who that is, but his other partner Nastassja Kinski caught me eye.
posted by msalt at 8:10 PM on February 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Peggy Lipton from the Mod Squad. She also played Norma Jennings on Twin Peaks. She's Rashida and Kidada's mom.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:45 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by elsietheeel at 8:45 PM on February 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Interviewer: You knew some of the classic cartoon characters, right?
Quincy Jones: Shit. I knew all them motherfuckers. I was best man at Deputy Dawg's wedding.
Interviewer: There must be some great stories there.
Quincy Jones: Man, one time, I remember, I had been partying in Tijuana with Charlie Brown for three days, and we ran into Foghorn Leghorn. He invited us back to his place and….I can't talk about this any more.
Interviewer: Not even a little?
Quincy Jones: Not in public, man.
posted by thelonius at 9:20 PM on February 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
Quincy Jones: Shit. I knew all them motherfuckers. I was best man at Deputy Dawg's wedding.
Interviewer: There must be some great stories there.
Quincy Jones: Man, one time, I remember, I had been partying in Tijuana with Charlie Brown for three days, and we ran into Foghorn Leghorn. He invited us back to his place and….I can't talk about this any more.
Interviewer: Not even a little?
Quincy Jones: Not in public, man.
posted by thelonius at 9:20 PM on February 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
I really didn't want the Vulture interview to end. Plenty of stuff of all quality.
posted by hawthorne at 7:11 AM on February 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by hawthorne at 7:11 AM on February 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
I really didn't want the Vulture interview to end
OK!
Interviewer: What do you think of today's cartoon music?
Quincy Jones: It ain't even worth talking about. It's just a bunch of has-been power pop guys with Pro Tools.
Interviewer: You really don't hear anything worthwhile since the golden era?
Quincy Jones: Man, don't tell me about no golden era. I personally coached Bugs Bunny in conducting. “Leopold”? That was my idea. Sinatra and I used to smuggle Jewish violin players out of Nazi Germany for Looney Tunes. British commandos would drop us off in one of those rubber boats, we'd come back with concertmasters and shit. They were so grateful they'd work for practically nothing.
posted by thelonius at 7:20 AM on February 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
OK!
Interviewer: What do you think of today's cartoon music?
Quincy Jones: It ain't even worth talking about. It's just a bunch of has-been power pop guys with Pro Tools.
Interviewer: You really don't hear anything worthwhile since the golden era?
Quincy Jones: Man, don't tell me about no golden era. I personally coached Bugs Bunny in conducting. “Leopold”? That was my idea. Sinatra and I used to smuggle Jewish violin players out of Nazi Germany for Looney Tunes. British commandos would drop us off in one of those rubber boats, we'd come back with concertmasters and shit. They were so grateful they'd work for practically nothing.
posted by thelonius at 7:20 AM on February 8, 2018 [4 favorites]
first comment on the GQ interview: That is possibly the greatest interview with anyone that has ever happened.
That is, until the Vulture interview came out.
posted by larrybob at 9:47 AM on February 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
That is, until the Vulture interview came out.
posted by larrybob at 9:47 AM on February 8, 2018 [6 favorites]
“I had never met any white man like Marlon,” [James] Baldwin later said. “He was obviously immensely talented — a real creative force — and totally unconventional and independent, a beautiful cat.” Baldwin said that Brando was “contemptuous of anyone who discriminated in any way,” adding that the actor, a professional seducer, made him feel that “reports I was ugly had been much exaggerated.” - from 2015 Manohla Dargis NY Times review of Brando documentary Listen to Me Marlon.
See also photos of Brando and Baldwin hugging on each other at the 1963 March on Washington. (image search)
posted by larrybob at 9:56 AM on February 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
See also photos of Brando and Baldwin hugging on each other at the 1963 March on Washington. (image search)
posted by larrybob at 9:56 AM on February 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
This whole business led me to look some things up and it was 17 years between Apocalypse Now Brando and Island of Doctor Moreau Brando and 22 years between Island of Doctor Moreau and now, so if like me you thought ofvone of those as kind of contemporary and the other as long, long ago welcome to being fucking old, I guess.
posted by Artw at 10:42 AM on February 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Artw at 10:42 AM on February 8, 2018 [2 favorites]
Island of Doctor Moreau Brando
Not to fuck mailboxes: that is The Law
posted by thelonius at 2:28 PM on February 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Not to fuck mailboxes: that is The Law
posted by thelonius at 2:28 PM on February 8, 2018 [1 favorite]
Paul Allen is the only guy who can play guitar like Hendrix? Judge for yourself. Probably wouldn't clear the room at an open blues jam in a bar, but, please.
posted by thelonius at 2:41 PM on February 8, 2018
posted by thelonius at 2:41 PM on February 8, 2018
Not a sentence I expected to say, but I'm kinda sympathetic to T-Pain.
Quincy Jones recruited the Autotune guy and the guy who got sued by Marvin Gaye's estate, and he expected them to sing 'P.Y.T.' better than Michael Jackson?
That's on Quincy Jones.
posted by box at 10:59 AM on February 10, 2018
Quincy Jones recruited the Autotune guy and the guy who got sued by Marvin Gaye's estate, and he expected them to sing 'P.Y.T.' better than Michael Jackson?
That's on Quincy Jones.
posted by box at 10:59 AM on February 10, 2018
It’s such a strange juxtaposition — how Michael’s music was so joyous, but his life just seems sadder and more odd as time goes by.
Yes, but at the end Michael’s problem was Propofol, and that problem affects everyone — doesn’t matter if you’re famous. Big Pharma making OxyContin and all that shit is a serious thing. I was around the White House for eight years with the Clintons, and I’d learn about how much influence Big Pharma has. It’s no joke. What’s your sign, man?
Pisces.
Me too. It’s a great sign.
I am still trying to figure out if that's a deliberate non sequitur or just Quincy.
posted by elsietheeel at 2:25 PM on February 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes, but at the end Michael’s problem was Propofol, and that problem affects everyone — doesn’t matter if you’re famous. Big Pharma making OxyContin and all that shit is a serious thing. I was around the White House for eight years with the Clintons, and I’d learn about how much influence Big Pharma has. It’s no joke. What’s your sign, man?
Pisces.
Me too. It’s a great sign.
I am still trying to figure out if that's a deliberate non sequitur or just Quincy.
posted by elsietheeel at 2:25 PM on February 10, 2018 [1 favorite]
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posted by bookbook at 2:57 AM on January 31, 2018 [8 favorites]