[besson3c]

I got to see Q give a commencement speech today after being awarded another honorary doctorate, he has several already.

I knew about Quincy from his jazz work, his depiction in the movie Ray and friendship with Ray Charles, his work with Michael Jackson and Thriller in particular, and his We Are the World charity stuff, but as it turns out this doesn't even scratch the surface...

He also did the music to Austin Powers, the Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Cosby Show, Stanford and Sons, a number of other movies and TV shows, was an SNL host in the 90s, has done work with rappers and hip hop dudes, Alica Keys, stuff for the Clinton and Obama inaugurations, work for Sinatra, Stephen Spielberg. Prior to his speech there was a video montage about his career with words from Bono, Sting, Alica Keys, and others.

In short, at 77 years old I don't know anybody else in the world of music that has had as impressive of a career in so many different areas. The dude is a flat out musical genius, I think that is pretty indisputable.

He had some interesting words to say (some at the commencement speech, some in a Q&A he did beforehand to a smaller audience), including the importance of understanding the music that came before the present, that jazz is America's classical music, but even if you dislike jazz that you understand how we got to where we are. He spoke of experiencing the world and other cultures, about how American music is listened to literally all over the world although we are the only country in the world without a minister of culture, and how our culture generally doesn't really understand or is aware of its own history and has generally been dumbed down over the years. He spoke of how MTV changed our culture, how our attention spans have been as well as in general our level of education and awareness of the rest of the world have been on the decline. He shared many stories involving the artists he's worked with, spoke very positively about many of the rappers out there and the respect he has for their talents, and about many other things I'm sure I'll recall later.

It's pretty cool to see a 77 year old guy being treated with such respect from audiences much younger than him. I think that people had some idea of some of the things he's done, but that video montage probably helped fill in some gaps... The extent of the stuff he's been involved with over the years is just incredible, and everything I've talked about doesn't even get into his charity work.

I tip my hat to Dr. Quincy Jones!

[besson3c]

Check this out!

Quincy Jones
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quincy_Jones

[besson3c]

I forgot to add that he also pleaded with the graduating class to stop pirating music

[Dork.]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

I got to see Q give a commencement speech today after being awarded another honorary doctorate, he has several already.

The guy on the left?

[besson3c]

Originally Posted by Dork. 

The guy on the left?

No, Quincy Jones is that Q's black twin brother, except his powers are in music rather than jerking around Jean Luc Picard.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

I tip my hat to Dr. Quincy Jones!

I agree. True genius. The Midas touch. He understands (and obviously loves) his purpose in life.

[ghporter]

I am always surprised when someone is surprised at how important and influential Quincy Jones has been and continues to be. From the heyday of big bands to today, Q has been a major force in popular music, behind the scenes, on stage, and everywhere in between.

[besson3c]

Glen, if you are addressing me, I'm not surprised, just not fully aware of the extent of his accomplishments were prior. In my defense, I bet that few people are!

[Shaddim]

That's one fertile dude, he sure did get around.

[besson3c]

There is also a political aspect to his career, particularly involving race... I hope we don't have to move this to the PWL...

I've had the pleasure of knowing one of Q's best friends who is also an older black man of about the same age (75+). They played in the same band in the 1960s. What Q has been trying to do through hip hop seems very similar to what my friend and somebody like Bill Cosby has been doing, and that's trying to sell the message that "being dumb is no longer sexy".

The success of both my friend and Q was quite improbable. If you listen to Q talking about his childhood growing up in the south side of Chicago (YouTube - Quincy Jones, Growing Up - SXSW 2009 Music Keynote), you'll know that it was pretty rough. He grew up around some very rough gangsters. My friend auditioned for and won the spot for a major symphony, but once they found out he was black they pulled his offer to join the symphony.

We take the standing of blacks in this country for granted, but it wasn't too long ago when it really, truly was not easy being a black man or woman. My friend also told me stories about days where he wasn't allowed into certain establishments because of his race, one of these establishments exist today and is a pretty tame family friendly restaurant.

Out of all of this, these two people found success when the odds were stacked against them. They want to advance the standing of blacks in this country by promoting education and awareness, and not tolerating ignorance and the whole gangsta scene that is so prevalent today. I know that many of you are familiar with Bill Cosby coming out and criticizing blacks caught up in this too. When you look at things from their perspective, it makes sense. They worked hard to get where they are, it must be downright nauseating to see people squander this work by helping perpetuate negative stereotypes and stigma.

If you look at some of the work Q has done in Hip Hop (there are interviews on YouTube), you can see his passion for this subject. However, their tactics do not involve haranguing whites or blowing the whistle on racism, but in education. Like I said (and I love this line), it just isn't sexy to be dumb. In Q's speech today he said that Oprah or something thing he saw asked some kids what the capital of Chicago was, obviously hoping that they would be able to recognize this flawed question. One kid answered "Dallas, Texas". We've seen the same stuff on Jay Leno's Jaywalking too, and we laugh at it, but at the same time it is downright scary, isn't it?

I really and truly appreciate this message. The world needs more fine role models such as Q.

I also agree with Q that our culture has been dumbing down over the years. Our attention spans have been on the decline, as has our education system on the whole. At times it is hard to stomach imagining a bottom-feeding culturally bankrupt society. All of the American music you love has been made possible by people that have shaped our culture and have made us proud. Can we really be proud of Lady Ga Ga the same way we have been proud of a dude like Stevie Wonder?

I don't really know what a minister of culture (as Q advocates) would do and how this would advance this country, but I do support the general idea of promoting and stimulating culture in this country. Not only through music, but a general awareness of our history, surroundings, the rest of the world, and all of the great individuals across the whole spectrum of the arts that have shaped this country into what it is. America is not only remembered and thought of by its political leaders, but also its cultural icons.

[aberdeenwriter]

He married Peggy Lipton of the 1960's TV show, The Mod Squad.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

Glen, if you are addressing me, I'm not surprised, just not fully aware of the extent of his accomplishments were prior. In my defense, I bet that few people are!

It wasn't a knock. Knowing who was behind specific accomplished performers isn't needed to enjoy those performers.

[richwig83]

Originally Posted by besson3c 

In short, at 77 years old I don't know anybody else in the world of music that has had as impressive of a career in so many different areas. The dude is a flat out musical genius, I think that is pretty indisputable.

QFT... hes been involved in virtually every musical genre and been at the top of the game in each and every one!

Infact.. i was in a studio in London before christmas.. and this was in the toilet!!



Rich

[MacinTommy]

Great genes.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

It wasn't a knock. Knowing who was behind specific accomplished performers isn't needed to enjoy those performers.

No, but it gives you a whole different level of appreciation - for the people *behind* the hits.

Knowing that Prince wrote "Manic Monday", "Nothing Compares 2U" and "Walk Like an Egyptian" as well as "1999" and the whole slew of hits you already knew were his gives another dimension to his success and his talent.

Same when you knew that Quincy did "Soul Bossa Nova" and "Ai No Corrida", but then you find that there's a hundred and fifty songs you're well familiar with that are his doing, as well.

[ghporter]

I did not know that Prince wrote those 3 songs for The Bangles and Sinéad O'Connor...and that sort of expands my appreciation for his talents a LOT. (A lot more than his recent line of colognes does...)

[Spheric Harlot]

OTOH, googling THAT and finding his line of "3121" perfume just DEpreciated my respect for him quite a bit.

Too much of a good thing (context) *can* be a bad thing.