CNBC Quiz: The Career of Quincy Jones

CNBC Quiz: The Career of Quincy Jones

With a career that has spanned more than five decades, Quincy Jones is considered one of the greatest music producers of all time. But his career wasn’t limited to just music. How well do you know the career of this legendary entertainment mogul? Test your "Q" IQ by taking our quiz.

Posted 20 July 2011

Jones was born in what American city?

1. Seattle
2. Cincinnati
3. Chicago
4. Los Angeles

Jones and his family moved from Chicago to Bremerton, Washington, when he was 10 years old. He later attended high scool at Seattle's Garfield High.

Quincy dropped out of college to travel with what musician?

1. Duke Ellington
2. Dizzy Gillespie
3. Ray Charles
4. Lionel Hampton

Jones met Ray Charles after he moved to Seattle with his family, and he freelanced for Duke Ellington and Dizzy Gillespie, but it was an offer to tour with Lionel Hampton that made him leave college.

In 1967, Jones became the first African-American producer to be nominated for an Academy Award in the "Best Original Song" category. What was the song?

1. The Eyes of Love, from Banning
2. The Look of Love, from Casino Royale
3. The Bare Necessities, The Jungle Book

The Eyes of Love, from the movie "Banning," starring Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, and Gene Hackman, was co-written by Bob Russell. “Talk to the Animals,” from Doctor Dolittle by Leslie Bricusse won the Academy Award that year.

Jones produced which of the following record-breaking albums?

1. The Bodyguard by Whitney Houston
2. Dirty Dancing by various artists
3. Come on Over by Shania Twain
4. Thriller by Michael Jackson

Thriller sold more than 50 million copies worldwide and, more than 20 years after its release, is still the best selling album of all time.

Jones composed the theme song for what television sitcom?

1. The Jeffersons
2. All in the Family
3. Sanford and Son
4. MASH

The theme song to Sanford and Son is included on the compilation of Jones' greatest hits. The title of the song is"The Streetbeater."

True or false: Quincy Jones helped produce the television sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" in the 1990s.

1. True
2. False

Jones was an executive producer on the show.

Jones was the musical producer on what 1978 movie with Diana Ross playing the lead character?

1. Mahogany
2. The Wiz
3. Lady Sings the Blues

In his autobiography, Jones said he did not want to work on The Wiz, but did it as a favor to director Sidney Lumet. The movie, which cost $24 million to produce, earned just $13.6 million at the box office.

Jones first teamed up with Michael Jackson on what album?

1. The Jackson 5 Christmas Album
2. Off the Wall
3. Thriller
4. Forever, Michael

"Off the Wall" was Jackson's fifth album, but his first solo effort. Jones agreed to produce the album after meeting Michael while both worked on "The Wiz."

In the 1990s, Jones ventured into television production. What program below was not produced by his entertainment company?

1. In the House
2. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
3. MadTV
4. The Real World

Jones formed Quincy Jones Entertainment (QJE), a co-venture with Time Warner, Inc., in 1990, and still serves as chairman and CEO.

True or false: Quincy Jones was invited by the Chinese government to help with the design of the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics.

1. True
2. False

Jones served as an artistic advisor to the Games in spite of pressure to pull out because of China's close ties to the Sudanese government, saying he could be a more effective advocate for human rights by remaining.

What is the actual title of the theme music from the 1997 film “Austin Powers, International Man of Mystery,” which Jones had written and produced in 1962?

1. Soul Bossa Nova
2. Shagadelic
3. Yeah Baby
4. A Song for Schwinging Lovers

“Soul Bossa Nova” was first released by Quincy Jones and his Orchestra in 1962. Before becoming the theme music to the Austin Powers movie series, it was the theme music to a popular Canadian television game show called "Definition."

Who officially gave Quincy Jones the nickname “Q?”

1. Michael Jackson
2. Sammy Davis, Jr.
3. Justin Bieber
4. Frank Sinatra

Jones and Sinatra first worked together in a benefit concert in 1958 in Monte Carlo.

True of False: Prince performed on the mutli-platinum single "We Are the World" produced by Jones.

1. True
2. False

Although invited, Prince did not perform on the single “We are the World.” He did, however, record an exclusive song “The Tears In Your Eyes” for the “We Are The World” album.

Your score:

• Platinum. Your knowledge of the “Q’s” career is chart busting
• Gold. Nice job, but you could use some production assistance
• Zinc. Your Quincy knowledge is less valuable than lead.


CNBC Titans: Quincy Jones premieres Thursday, July 21 at 10pm ET and re-airs at 1am ET.

Slideshow: Top Singles Produced by Quincy Jones