In Tune with Quincy Jones: A Special Panel Event Featuring Q’s Key Collaborators
Part of the yearlong event series Quincy Jones: Beyond Category

ADMISSION & CAMPUS ACCESS:
Admission is free. Reservations are required. Campus access is limited to registered guests and USC students, staff, and faculty with current USC ID. 

RSVP

DESCRIPTION:
In the 1970s and 1980s, Quincy Jones released his own critically and commercially acclaimed albums including Smackwater Jack (1971), Body Heat (1974), and The Dude (1981), as well as film and television soundtracks such as Roots and The Color Purple, and the iconic 1985 anthem “We Are the World.” The music visionary also applied his Midas touch to the work of many other artists, producing for the likes of the Brothers Johnson, George Benson, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, and Ray Charles, and, most notably, Michael Jackson’s top-selling Thriller (1982) and Bad (1987).

During this prolific and fertile period, Jones curated and called on a cadre of go-to musicians and creative collaborators, each talented and exceptional in their own way. The USC Thornton School of Music’s yearlong tribute to Quincy Jones continues with a panel event that brings together some of his longstanding collaborators—influential artists and musicians who collaborated with Jones on projects ranging from Michael Jackson’s Thriller to “We Are the World” and helped contribute to his iconic sound during this era: 

> Patti Austin, whose peerless vocal talents graced many of Jones’s classic productions
> Thomas Bähler, singer, composer, songwriter, and associate producer and arranger for the recording of “We Are the World”
> Ed Eckstine, former president of Mercury Records and senior executive at Arista Records and Quincy Jones Productions
> Siedah Garrett, an extraordinary performer and co-writer of Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”
> Jerry Hey, Grammy Award–winning arranger, orchestrator, and musician who played on Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” and “Working Day and Night”
> Paul Jackson, Jr., the masterful guitarist whose playing and riffs have shaped many hits, and also Thornton School of Music faculty
> Greg Phillinganes, the versatile keyboardist and arranger who played a pivotal role in many Quincy Jones projects
> John “JR” Robinson, the legendary drummer whose impeccable timing and groove provided the backbone for many Quincy Jones–produced tracks
> Mervyn Warren, producer-arranger and a key Quincy Jones collaborator and phenomenal vocal arranger
Additional guests may be announced.

In a dynamic conversation produced and moderated by USC Thornton Dean Jason King and Grammy-winning Universal Music Enterprises Vice President Harry Weinger, the panelists will share and discuss their experiences working with the iconic Quincy Jones.

This event is part of Quincy Jones: Beyond Category, an event series organized by the USC Thornton School of Music to explore, elevate, and celebrate the life and legacy of Quincy Jones. At 91, the musician, instrumentalist, composer, conductor, arranger, songwriter, music producer, film and television producer, entrepreneur, investor, social activist, and philanthropist is celebrating seven decades of unprecedented professional creativity and excellence as a trailblazing cultural figure. 

Related events:

Screening Quincy Jones: Duke Ellington… We Love You Madly
Friday, September 20, 2024, at 7 p.m.
Norris Cinema Theatre
Get more info HERE.

Presenting Patti Austin: A Vocal Masterclass
Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 3 to 5 p.m. 
Carson Soundstage
Get more info HERE.

The Making of Handel’s Messiah: A Soulful Celebration—A Close Listening Session
Thursday, November 21, 2024, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Carson Soundstage
Get more info HERE.

Quincy Jones Symphonic: A USC Concert Experience
Friday, March 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Bovard Auditorium
Get more info HERE.

Vibe Revived: Reflections from Vibe Magazine’s Trailblazing Writers and Editors
Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.
Newman Recital Hall
Get more info HERE.

Presented by USC Visions and Voices. Organized by the USC Thornton School of Music in collaboration with the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective.

Image credits:
Photo (Quincy Jones): Art Streiber/AUGUST
Photo (Patti Austin): Courtesy of Barry Orms
Photo (Ed Eckstine): Courtesy of Ed Eckstine
Photo (Siedah Garrett): Lanisha Colec}
Photo (Jerry Hey): Courtesy of Jerry Hey
Photo (Paul Jackson): Tim Alexander
Photo (Greg Philinganes): Art1st Photography
Photo (John Robinson): Rob Shanahan
Photo (Mervyn Warren): Jason Clark