From ‘The Wiz’ to those messy Marlon Brando remarks, a look at icon Quincy Jones’ impact on queer culture
Thriller). The first Black person nominated for a Best Score Oscar (In Cold Blood). An EGOT! It’d be hard to overstate just how important Jones was to music and our world at large.And while he was straight, much of his work has left an undeniable mark on the LGBTQ+ community.
With that in mind, let’s take a quick look at some of the most notable moments in Jones’ expansive career that have made an impact on queer culture.Born in Chicago in 1933, Jones took up trumpeting as a teen and quickly made a name for himself in the world of jazz under the tutelage of icons like Ray Charles & Count Basie.
After signing to Mercury Records and putting out jazz albums of his own, he became the label’s musical director at a time when the popularity of the genre was waning.Sensing this, Jones took a leap of faith when he signed a new pop act: Then 16-year-old Lesley Gore.
Her debut single “It’s My Party” became a chart-topping smash, and is considered Jones’ first pop success, too. He’d continue to produce a run of Gore’s hit albums in the ’60s, which also included her signature song, “You Don’t Own Me.” Especially after she came out as a lesbian in the 2000s, that track (and mush of her music) has been embraced as a queer anthem.Although it’s never been a bastion of gay pride, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame occasionally bestows props on LGBTQ legends.
