Quincy Jones
Chicago producer and arranger whose work with Michael Jackson produced Thriller — the best-selling album of all time — and whose 60-year career spans jazz, pop, and everything in between.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest Music Producers of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Quincy Jones significantly differently across lists.
The Cultural Record
Discography
Chicago producer and arranger whose work with Michael Jackson produced Thriller — the best-selling album of all time — and whose 60-year career spans jazz, pop, and everything in between
Awards & Recognition
28 Grammy Awards
View All 28 Grammy Wins →—
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Case For Quincy Jones
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Quincy Jones.
Often Compared To
Rick Rubin
#2Producer — Long Beach, New York · 1983–present
Long Island producer and Def Jam co-founder who has produced albums in hip-hop, metal, country, and pop — his minimalist approach transformed artists from the Beastie Boys to Johnny Cash.
Swizz Beatz
#3Producer — Bronx, New York · 1998–present
Bronx producer, rapper, and Ruff Ryders affiliate whose hard-hitting production defined DMX's sound and whose Verzuz battle series became one of the most culturally significant music events of the pandemic.