Quincy Jones, a legendary composer, producer, and arranger, was celebrated at the 2025 Oscars for his groundbreaking contributions to film and music. Though widely recognized for his work in pop and R&B, Jones left an undeniable mark on cinema with his innovative and genre-defying scores.
Honoring his lasting legacy on the Oscars stage were Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and Queen Latifah, who paid tribute to the late icon, who passed away in November 2024 at the age of 91.
“One’s first thought is musical genius—and for good reason,” Winfrey said, acknowledging Jones’ collaborations with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Ray Charles, as well as his role as the driving force behind We Are The World. “But the man, our beloved Q, had an equally important impact on film.”
Goldberg echoed the sentiment, stating, “When we talk about Black excellence, we talk about Quincy.”
Winfrey also credited Jones with launching her acting career. “He actually discovered me for The Color Purple, which was my first film,” she shared. “Quincy was love—he lived out loud in human form and poured that love into others and his work.”
Jones’ cinematic legacy includes scores for iconic films such as In Cold Blood, The Getaway, The Italian Job, and The Color Purple, for which he composed and produced the music. The Spielberg-directed classic earned 11 Academy Award nominations, including Best Original Score, further cementing Jones’ ability to tell profound stories through music.
Queen Latifah capped off the tribute with a dazzling gold-and-glittering performance of Ease on Down the Road from The Wiz, one of Jones’ most celebrated film projects.
With a career that spanned seven decades, Quincy Jones’ impact on music and film remains unparalleled, and his legacy continues to inspire generations of artists.