Quincy Jones Accomplishments

During this time he also learned to play several musical instruments. He went on to become one of the greatest musical artists of all time by Fusing R&B, gospel, pop, country and Jazz. In the movie "RAY" he is portrayed as a young black musician learning

Ray Charles Robinson, known to many as Ray Charles “The Great” was born on September 23, 1930 in a small town of Albany, Georgia. He was a pianist, songwriter, and singer. Ray’s mother was a sharecropper and his father was a mechanic, when Ray was little they moved to Greenville, Florida. In Mr. Charles early years of life he was a witness of his little brother drowning to death. In some type of way, Charles began to lose his eyesight right after the death of his little brother.

As jazz was going out of style, Berry took it and made it his own by throwing in R&B and gospel music. He also had a lot of success because he had talented people. A main reason most of the artists were not getting recognized before was because they were African American. This gave Berry an advantage to become something. By the 1970's music had changed and Motown Records took off west to Los Angeles like every other music company.

Charles never let him being blind be a problem with his music. He has accomplished receiving twenty-seven grammys. He received a National Medal of Art by president Clinton, and being inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In Charles early life he lost his sight to see at age seven.

There is nothing that would crown a person’s success like the ability to keep going; no matter the odds. Ray Charles has shown that when we stand the test of time then we would be counted as one of the champions in life. You cannot go wrong when you pick this characteristic of persistence from a man who is a model; showing us how to overcome obstacles like a genius. Innovation is a

Jimi Hendrix was an amazing, inspirational musician who created a new form of music, that made a giant impact on the world. Jimi Hendrix was born in Seattle, Washington November 27, 1942, and died September 18, 1970. He taught himself guitar as a teenager, and eventually started playing professionally. He grew up listening to the blues records by Chuck Berry, B.B King, Muddy Waters, and Eddie Cochran. He didn't go to college, but he followed in his father's footsteps and enlisted in the U.S. army.

Johnny Cash had a very interesting, exciting life in and out of his musical career. He was a huge phenomenon and everyone was listening to him at this point in the late 1900s. People who didn’t listen to Johnny Cash were considered foolish because he was fantastic. He had hardships but they made him stronger in every aspect of life and it was very noticeable. The public was impressed with his music and the way he held himself which helped him with his musical achievements.

“A major figure in the history of jazz music, his career spanned more than half a century, during which time he composed thousands of songs for the stage, screen and contemporary songbook. He created one of the most distinctive ensemble sounds in Western music and continued to play what he called "American Music" until shortly before his death in 1974.”(Biography.com). Duke ellington was born in , Washington, D.C on April 29, 1899 to his two talented, musical parents where they lived in a middle-class neighborhood of Washington D.C. Being raised in a musical family Duke ellington began playing piano and composing music.

Duke Ellington had a successful career and musicians and jazz fans all around the world. Whenever musicians young or old bring up jazz music in a discussion, jazz fan or classicist in any part of the world the name Duke Ellington is mentioned. Starting young after maturing he had a lot of memorable events throughout his life. Duke Ellington had a big impact on music during his time. He is considered by many to be the most brilliant Jazz composers in American history.

On May 26,1926, Miles Davis the son of Dr. Miles Dewey Davis, Jr. and Cleota Mae Davis, was brought into this world. Shortly after Miles was born his family moved to St. Louis. He was then raised in the eastern portion in a black middle class family. Miles had an older sister named Dorothy and a younger brother Vernon. The Davis family enjoyed everything little thing about music and what it was worth.

Thelonious Monk was an absolute game changer in the society of jazz music. His exciting style often seemed erratic to the untrained ear, and caused some resentment of Monk in earlier years, due to how difficult he was to perform with. One of his songs, Brilliant Corners, was never actually fully recorded, it was spliced together from multiple takes, despite the band playing a four hour session with 25 takes. Despite how challenging is songs were to play, and how hard it was for the main stream to warm up to his music, Monk rose to jazz stardom and would ultimately alter the future of jazz music. Thelonious Monk was born on October 10th, 1917 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina before his family relocated to Manhattan when he was five.

Elvis faced many obstacles during his 24 years as the “King” he faced racial controversy, musical barriers, and bad press in order to help create Rock and Roll music. Long before Rock n Roll was created or even thought of, the musical world was divided over petty differences. One of the many reasons why music was divided was the heavy racism that plagued the United States since the end of slavery. Another reason why music was divided was the fact of a huge generation gap, or difference between parent and child. These are some of the challenges that Elvis faced.

His music got African Americans through such rough times. His voice gave them hope as well. He was the one that shaped the way that jazz is today. The Harlem Renaissance was an important movement that showed the talents of gifted African American musicians, poets, artist, and many

When the term “production” is mentioned in music, it's difficult to not mention the name Quincy Jones. As stated by many, Quincy Jones has earned his reputation as a, “Renaissance man of music”. Quincy has portrayed himself as a bandleader, a solo artist, a sideman, a producer, a film composer and a record label executive. Jones was born in Chicago Illinois, on March 14, 1933. It wasn't until his family transitioned to Seattle Washington he began his interest in music.

After starting Motown Records in Detroit, he signed mostly black artists. He wanted to make music that was accepted by white Americans.