TWO-HOUR SPECIAL FEATURES APPEARANCES BY OPRAH WINFREY, WILL SMITH, DANNY GLOVER, DAVE CHAPPELLE, LL COOL J, LUDACRIS AND MORE
PERFORMERS INCLUDE STEVIE WONDER, GLADYS KNIGHT, BRIAN MCKNIGHT, JOHN LEGEND, GLORIA ESTEFAN, FANTASIA, CHARLIE WILSON, JENNIFER HUDSON, NE-YO, SAM SMITH, MEGHAN TRAINOR, PATTI AUSTIN, YOLANDA ADAMS, LEDISI, AND CYNTHIA ERIVO
New York, NY – November 27, 2018 – BET Networks is set to premiere “Q85: A Musical Celebration for Quincy Jones,” a star-studded evening that celebrates the life and legacy of the icon. The special was taped in September at the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles, and will premiere on BET Networks on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at 8:00PM ET.
Produced in partnership with AEG Ehrlich Ventures, who is most known for producing the GRAMMY Awards telecast, the two-hour special is set to take audiences on a melodic and visual journey, depicting the momentous impact Jones has had on music and popular culture over the past seven decades. The evening will explore Quincy the hit maker, contributions to film & television, work as a humanitarian, his contributions to jazz, and success as a producer, highlighting his relationship with Michael Jackson.
In celebration of such an iconic figure, some of the biggest stars came to share in on the celebration. Performers such as Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight, Brian McKnight, John Legend, Gloria Estefan, Emily Estefan,Fantasia, Charlie Wilson, Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, Meghan Trainor, Patti Austin, Yolanda Adams, Ledisi, Cynthia Erivo, and Gregory Porter all hit the stage to pay tribute to Mr. Jones performing his classic works. Additionally, Oprah Winfrey, Will Smith, Danny Glover, Usher Raymond, Dave Chappelle, LL Cool J, Rashida Jones, Ludacris, and Aloe Blacc shared their personal stories of how Quincy has impacted them throughout the years.
"For most of my life, the name Quincy Jones has represented excellence in nearly every part of the American musical landscape. To be able to celebrate his remarkable achievements in a two-hour television event is has been one of the great joys of my life, and I have no doubt that viewers of all ages and backgrounds will relate to the musical highlights of this amazing man. From Ray Charles to Michael Jackson, from "The Pawnbroker" to "The Color Purple", Quincy's done it all, and done it all with brilliance,” said Ken Ehrlich, executive producer of Q85.
Over the past 70 years, Quincy has graced us with a multitude of talents such as a trumpeter, producer, conductor, composer and arranger. His work is so intertwined into popular culture giving us the soundtracks and theme songs to many of the films and television shows we’ve come to know as classics, such as “The Color Purple,” “Roots,” ‘Sanford & Son,’ and ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air.’ As a mentor, he has cultivated the careers of some of the biggest talents of the past decade, such as Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and Will Smith, a tradition he continues with new artists today.