Melody is king, and don't you ever forget it. Lyrics appear to be out front, but they're not; they're just an accompanying factor. If they're good, you're really in good shape. Lyrics are written to be rewritten. — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
Working with kids in Soweto in South Africa, it's rough out there. But the bottom line is you've got to go to know. In Cambodia, there are 10,000 landmines. Same in Afghanistan, same in Colombia. I'm totally addicted to traveling. — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
It's amazing how much trouble you can get in when you don't have anything else to do. — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
It's easy to get next to music theory, especially between your peers and music classes and so forth. You just pay attention. I had… — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
It slaps your dignity just right. I loved the idea of these proud, dignified black men, and I saw the older ones wounded, and… — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
I was inspired by a lot of people when I was young. Every band that came through town, to the theater, or the dance… — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
“The tragedy of Tupac is that his untimely passing is representative of too many young black men in this country....If we had lost Oprah… — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
Thank God, 50 years ago I learned that our entire business is all based on two things; a great song and a great story.… — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
Sidney Poitier and Sidney Lumet were instrumental in helping me get started as the first black composer to get name credit for movie scores. — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
A person's age can be determined by the degree of pain he experiences when he comes in contact with a new idea. — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
I met Ray Charles at 14, and he was 16. But he was like a hundred years older than me. — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
I got to trumpet, finally. That's why I love to write for brass, and [Count] Basie and [Frank] Sinatra and all that stuff, 'cause… — Quincy Jones Copy Share Image
![“I got to trumpet, finally. That's why I love to write for brass, and [Count] Basie and [Frank] Sinatra and all that stuff, 'cause that's just like part of my DNA.” quote by Quincy Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/373/quincy-jones-2731_brass_i-got-to-trumpet-finally-that-s-why-i-lo_245935.jpg)