How many number ones did Quincy Jones produce?
The past 70 years in music would never have been the same without Quincy Jones. Between the hats of both musicianship and production, his impact on popular culture and society as a whole is indelible, a legacy for which he will be revered by historians for decades to come. However, this glowing reference is not only backed up by words alone—he, of course, had hits and accolades aplenty to cement this status, the number of which set him apart in the industry as being within his own legion of legendary.
Jones began professional life as a jazz musician, playing in orchestras supporting little-known names, including Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, before going on to compose the soundtracks of over 40 major movies such as In the Heat of the Night and The Italian Job—an impressive first few gigs. It’s no surprise in this sense, then, that when Jones broke into the fray of pop music, producing Lesley Gore’s number one hit ‘It’s My Party’ in 1963, everything he did would be destined for stardom. This was his first taste of riding high in the charts, and from there, he just couldn’t stop.
Indeed, Jones would go on to produce no less than 12 number-one hits over the seven-decade course of his career, with his partnership with Gore representing only the beginning. In her, he created further hits following ‘It’s My Party’ with the likes of ‘You Don’t Own Me’, but despite its success, he would be pipped to the top position. Instead, it would be another special partnership that would spawn the vast majority of Jones’ number ones and, in the process of doing so, make the artist himself rise to royalty.
Of course, Jones is perhaps most famed for his prolific work with Michael Jackson across his three most seminal albums, Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad, which boasted a seismic nine chart-toppers among them. These hits were, naturally, what vaunted Jackson to his status as the King of Pop, but while he’ll always get the main credit, the likes of ‘I Just Can’t Stop Loving You’ and ‘Dirty Diana’ would never have existed without Jones at the helm, and in this sense, he deserves the regal pomp just as much.
So, which other hit songs did Quincy Jones produce?
Within this, the Thriller album is to this day stated as the best-selling record of all time – although the eponymous single, funnily enough, wasn’t among the top hits as it only reached number four in the US. However, that title alone would be enough to cement Jones as a pop music idol, surely?
It did, but never one to rest on his laurels, Jones continued to climb the stratospheric ladder of glory. Alongside another number one outside his work with Jackson, in the form of ‘Baby Come To Me’ by Patti Austin and James Ingram, the mogul was responsible for the seminal USA for Africa aid single ‘We Are the World’, bringing together a hall of fame’s worth of stars including Jackson himself, who wrote the song, as well as a host of others such as Bruce Springsteen, Diana Ross, and Cyndi Lauper, creating a megahit for the ages.
After all that, it’s well seeing that Jones deserves his plaudits. Not only did he lead an extraordinary life and career, but it was one that changed the course of the world and left its own mark in history as a pioneer of popular music. It’s odd to imagine what music would be like without his influence, and this is exactly the impact for which the icon will always be remembered. No one did it quite like Quincy Jones.
