As tickets go on sale, two phenomenal names from British music have been added to the star-studded line-up for Quincy Jones’ 85th birthday concert, paying tribute to his unparalleled career, at The O2, London on Wednesday 27th June 2018.
British Soul singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, and one of the original greats, Paul Weller, will take to the stage as special guests for this very special evening. Joined by a full symphony orchestra, also confirmed for this one-off show include Caro Emerald, Jess Glynne, Lalah Hathaway, Mick Hucknall, Beverley Knight, Jonah Nilsson, Mark Ronson, Jack Savoretti and Andreas Varady with many more to be announced.
Quincy Jones - A Life In Song will bring the acclaimed producer, songwriter, composer, and all-round hitmaker back to the stage for a night of music, as well as an onstage conversation with Nic Harcourt. He will also be musical director for the show, as the orchestra performs stunning arrangements of his best loved hits, conducted by Jules Buckley, and sung by some of the world’s greatest musical talents.
The concert will also feature a tribute to English songwriter, producer, and musician Rod Temperton, who passed away in 2016. Originally the keyboardist and main songwriter for the band Heatwave, whose hits include ‘“Boogie Nights” and “Always and Forever”, Temperton was approached by Quincy Jones to write songs for Michael Jackson—which marked the beginning of one of the most successful musical partnerships in history, as well as a life-long friendship.
Songs performed live at this exclusive show will include hits from across Jones’ career, such as “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, “Off The Wall”, “Rock With You”, “P.Y.T”, “Bad”, “Ai No Corrida”, “Fly Me To The Moon”, “Give Me The Night”, “On Days Like These”, “Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me”, and more. These songs will be orchestrated using the original arrangements from Jones’ own vault in L.A.
Named by Time Magazine as one of the most influential jazz musicians of the 20th Century, Quincy Jones is an icon in the broadest and most creative sense of the word. His career has encompassed the roles of composer, artist, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, record company executive, magazine founder, multi-media entrepreneur, humanitarian, investor, and record, film, and TV producer. As a master inventor of musical hybrids, he has shuffled pop, soul, hip-hop, jazz, classical, African, and Brazilian music into many dazzling fusions, traversing virtually every medium, including records, live performance, movies, and television.
Jones’ creative magic has spanned over seven decades, beginning with the music of the post-swing era, and continues to influence today’s high-technology, international multi-media hybrids. He has received an incredible 79 Grammy Award nominations, with 27 wins—the joint-most wins of any living person, and all-time most Grammy nominated artist—and has also been nominated for seven Academy Awards for his original compositions for films.
With a lifetime filled with so many musical highlights that have influenced popular culture so deeply, standout moments are not hard to come by. Although, certainly up there to be considered are his arrangements for Frank Sinatra on tracks such as “Fly Me to the Moon”, which became not only a popular standard, but also the first song ever played on the moon.
Another notable feat, amongst many, is Jones’ ground-breaking production on Michael Jackson’s three albums Off The Wall in 1979, Thriller in 1982, and Bad in 1987. Over the course of his career, he has sold an uncountable amount of records, with Thriller selling over 100 million copies alone. He is one of only a few producers ever to have number one records in three consecutive decades (1960s, 1970s, and 1980s).
On performing this very special one-off concert, Quincy Jones said:
“For many years, I couldn’t play in the UK because the unions wouldn’t allow Americans to do concerts there. Finally, it worked out for us to go in ‘96 for a tribute to Nelson Mandela, and I conducted a show at the Royal Albert Hall with Phil Collins, Tony Bennett, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu, and many other talented performers. I’ll never forget standing on the stage thinking that, after waiting 30 years, I was finally able to perform in such a historic venue.
Anyways, it was a long time coming, so every time I get to return to the UK, it’s truly meaningful; after not being allowed in at one point, you never take it for granted. But more importantly, I know this show is going to be an emotional one for me because we’ll be doing a tribute to my brother Rod Temperton, on his home turf. I love and miss him with all of my heart and soul, but I’m definitely looking forward to sharing such a special moment with his home country.”
Quincy Jones – A Life In Song
Wednesday 27th June 2018
The O2, Peninsula Square, London SE10 0DX
