Quincy Jones, considered a music industry legend, passed away at the age of 70, leaving behind an illustrious legacy. Although he was one of Hollywood’s greatest record producers, his personal life was challenging as he suffered two fatal brain aneurysms. In a previous interview with People, published in 1974, Jones recalled the collapse of the house he shared with Peggy Lipton before marrying her the following year.
Recalling the incident, he said, “I felt as if the back of my head had been blown off by a gun blast.” Upon examination, doctors found that two blood vessels in his brain had burst and it was a miracle that he survived. After his second aneurysm, doctors warned him of permanent paralysis. But Jones acknowledged that he had a will to live and so he overcame the risks. “All I could think was, ‘Oh my God, I’m not ready yet.'”
Following his second operation, doctors shared details of his surgery, the musician told the outlet. “The doctor told me that they cut my skull and put it on the table, then they put it back together with six metal clips,” he said.
To ensure that history did not repeat itself, Jones was given a number of restrictions and precautionary measures by doctors, which meant he could not play his beloved trumpet as it would have risked the metal clips closing his veins. . In an interview with GQ, he revealed that while on tour in Japan, he tried to play the instrument, but got a headache. “I can’t avoid it, man,” he said at the time.
According to People, he made a full recovery after both the surgeries but suffered selective memory loss as a side effect. Yet he managed to live a full life and left his mark on many in the industry. His industry peers, from Jamie Lee Curtis to Harry Connick Jr. and many other Hollywood A-listers, paid tribute to him. Jones was married and divorced three times and is survived by six daughters and one son.
