Quincy Jones in September 2018.Photo:Brad Barket/Getty
Brad Barket/Getty
The2025 Grammyscelebrated the life ofQuincy Joneswith a sweet tribute.
On Sunday, Feb. 2,Cynthia ErivoandHerbie Hancocktook the stage first to honor the late music legend whodied in November2024 at age 91, as well asthe wildfires in Los Angeles.
A star-studded list of artists, including Erivo, Hancock,Stevie Wonder,Janelle Monáe,Lainey Wilson,andJacob Collier,took the stage to pay tribute to thelegendary musicianand the enduring “spirit” of L.A.
But before the musicians covered their renditions of Jones' celebrated song,Will Smithintroduced the tribute and said, “A brilliant 28-time Grammy Award-winning producer, arranger, film, television composer, conductor, trumpet player, recording artist and humanitarian. In his 91 years, Q touched countless lives. He changed mine forever.”
“Quincy worked with so many music greats across multiple genres,” Smith continued. “Bringing the best out in legends from brother Ray Charles to Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie to Aretha Franklin, just name a few.” Smith went on to note that Jones began his career in jazz, which eventually brought him to collaborate with Frank Sinatra. Smith then introduced Ervio and Hancock to cover the 1964 hit, “Fly Me to the Moon.”
Herbie Hancock and Cynthia Erivo on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.JC Olivera/WireImage
JC Olivera/WireImage
Erivo performed a slower rendition of Frank Sinatra’s classic before the orchestra joined in and picked up the tempo — and resembled the crooner’s version.
Wilson and Collier collaborated on a country twist on Jones' 1995 song “Let the Good Times Roll."
As the tribute continued, Hancock joined Wonder for a mashup of “Bluesette.” Wonder played the harmonica, while Hancock remained on the piano. The song then transitioned to “We Are the World.”
“You see the people there that day, Quincy told us to keep our egos out and at the door. And we are still the world. And I say to you: We’re still the children, we are still the people who fight and will die for this nation. So we definitely have to be able to celebrate each other,” Wonder said.
Lainey Wilson on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.Kevin Winter/Getty
Kevin Winter/Getty
Before Monáe concluded the tribute, Smith returned to the stage to share his own memories of the legendary figure and their time onThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, on which Jones served as a producer. “Quincy taught us all that life is a feast, and you don’t stop till you get enough. And because Q was always the last at the party, we’re ending our loving tribute with a real thriller.“Monáe closed out the tribute with a cover ofMichael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” and embraced the King of Pop’s energetic presence. She paid homage to both Jones and Jackson and channeled theThrillersinger’s signature moves — including an impressive moonwalk.
The singer also jumped into the audience and ripped off her tuxedo jacket to reveal her shirt that read, “I ❤️ QJ.” “We love you, Quincy!” she shouted.
Herbie Hancock and Stevie Wonder on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.JC Olivera/WireImage
Brad Paisley,Lainey Wilson,John Legend,Sheryl Crow,Herbie Hancock,St. Vincent, Jacob Collier and Alabama Shakes’Brittany Howardalso participated in the tributes at theTrevor Noah-hosted award ceremony — held at L.A.’s Crypto.com Arena.
News of the special tribute performances comes after the Recording Academyannounced that its 2025 ceremony will raise money for relief effortsin L.A., where wildfiresdamaged thousands of structuresand killedover two dozen peoplesince Jan. 7.
Check out all of PEOPLE’s full Grammys coverage here.
In an interview withRolling Stoneon Wednesday, Jan. 29, executive producer Raj Kapoor said that honoring Jones has been on the docket for several months.
“The entire Grammys could have actually been Quincy Jones,” he told the publication. “The wealth of work, the wealth of genres, the amount of music that he has touched — he really is the dude,” says Kapoor. “We’ve been working on creating something really special. We’ve had so many artists that have wanted to participate. I think it’s going to be one of the definitive performances of the show, [showing] how much love we have for him as a music community.”
Janelle Monae on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.Amy Sussman/Getty
Amy Sussman/Getty
This year’s show, they said, “will carry a renewed sense of purpose: raising additional funds to support wildfire relief efforts and honoring the bravery and dedication of first responders who risk their lives to protect ours.”
To raise money, the Recording Academy and MusiCare launched theLos Angeles Fire Relief Effort to Support Music Professionals, which has since collected over $3 million.
“In challenging times, music has the power to heal, comfort, and unite like nothing else,” the statement concluded. “The GRAMMYs will not only honor the artistry and achievements of our music community but also serve as a platform to amplify the spirit of resilience that defines this great city of Los Angeles.
The Grammys are broadcasting live fromCrypto.comArena in Los Angeles on CBS or stream them live and on-demand on Paramount+.
source: people.com
