Seattle Honors Quincy Jones as Music Titan’s Legacy Lives On in His Hometown

The city of Seattle is in mourning as the world bids farewell to Quincy Jones, the legendary music producer with deep connections to the locale. Recognized as an influential figure in music history, Jones’s contributions range from his arrangements for Frank Sinatra to his groundbreaking work on Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” which remains the best-selling album of all time. His influence touched generations, infused with the spirit of Seattle where his career found its early roots. As reported by KING5, despite reaching international acclaim, Jones maintained his ties to Seattle, often revisiting his high school which stood as a monument to the beginnings of his storied career.

A testament to his enduring impact is the Quincy Jones Performing Arts Center at Garfield High School, named in his honor. Graduating from Garfield in 1950, Jones’s time in Seattle laid the groundwork for a career that would span genres and decades. KIRO7 notes that, while Jones explored various musical styles throughout his career, his heart never quite left the jazz scene from which he emerged. Even after 40 years, “Thriller” stands as a proud beacon of his ability to blend profound musical intelligence with undeniable groove, a skill Thomas Marriott, a fellow Garfield High alum and jazz trumpeter, admired saying, “I think his real gift was making things hip,” a sentiment echoing the feelings of many who were influenced by Jones’s work.

In a poignant tribute, Garfield High School’s marching band gathered in the Quincy Jones Performance Center to perform “Thriller” in memory of the late maestro, casting a single spotlight on an empty chair reserved for him. This gesture, as KGW observed, symbolizes the profound absence his passing leaves in the world of music and in the heart of the community that molded him. 

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