From the poorest beginnings in Chicago to one of the greatest music producers of our life-time who's work lit up my dance floors as a DJ (Michael Jackson), helped my record company career (Donna Summer) and inspired me to work in music.

I have been fortunate enough to meet the great Q twice in my life and also remix from the multi-track tapes, with his blessings, one of his important recordings "A State Of Independence" by Donna Summer on Quincy's own record label Qwest in 1996. Called the 'New Radio Millennium Mix' (below). The original multi-tapes from 1980 featured an all-star choir including Lionel Richie, Dionne Warwick, Michael Jackson, Brenda Russell, Christopher Cross, Dyan Cannon, James Ingram, Kenny Loggins and Stevie Wonder. The pre-curser to the Quincy produced "We Are The World".

I have a confession here, in 1996 we tried to bend our new funky rhythm and bass-line to accommodate the changing key in the song in Olympic Studios, Barnes, London, but it didn't quite marry all the way although the Martin Luther King speech really fits the sentiment of the song. It went to #13 in the national pop charts, one place higher than the 1980 release.

I first met Quincy in person at LAX Airport in 2006 - we chatted about the above Donna Summer remix and laughed about its extra one place in the UK chart. A very warm man. If ever there was a Dude, its his title.

Check his The Autobiography of Quincy Jones by Quincy Jones - The all-time most nominated Grammy artist, with a total of 76 nominations and 26 awards, Quincy Jones has also received an Emmy Award, seven Oscar nominations, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. His life and career were chronicled in 1990 in the critically acclaimed Warner Bros. film Listen Up: The Lives of Quincy Jones. In 2001, he published Q: The Autobiography of Quincy Jones.

Suzanne Jeoffroy and I saw the Secret Garden song performed live in LA in 1990 when attending the Soul Bowl Awards courtesy of Atlantic Records after breaking En Vogue in the UK so that they could launch the girls career in the USA with a hit record "Hold On". Sylvia Rhone flew us into New York then Los Angeles as a thank you and we saw the Master - Quincy Jones receive his Heritage Award and perform his "Secret Garden" with as Quincy Jones feat. Al B. Sure!, James Ingram, El DeBarge, & Barry White - The SecretGarden (Sweet Seduction Suite)

In 2014 Quincy was the star guest and speaker at a charity afternoon in Beverly Hills where we bumped fists again after he gave me his personal card to stay in touch. I idolize the man, a true music soul and human. Be sure to check out his documentary produced by his daughter Rashida Jones on Netflix, its incredible..

Quincy - This documentary profiles music and culture icon Quincy Jones, offering unprecedented access to his private life and stories from his unparalleled career. www.netflix.com/title/80102952

1990 - 4th Annual Soul Train Music Awards

Wednesday, March 14, 1991 at the
Shrine Auditorium - Los Angeles, CA

Co-Hosts: Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, Luther Vandross

Special Award Recipients:

THE 1991 HERITAGE AWARD - for outstanding career achievements in the field of entertainment:

QUINCY JONES

 Musical Performances By:

Regina Belle, Big Daddy Kane, Bobby Brown, Tevin Campbell, El Debarge, James Ingram, Milli Vanilli, Teddy Riley, Soul II Soul, Al B Sure, Jody Watley, Barry White, The Winans, Dionne Warwick, Luther Vandross, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, The Popcorn Kids

 Celebrity Presenters of Awards:

New Edition, Young M.C., Rick Dees, The Pointer Sisters, Calloway, Bebe & Cece Winans, Stacy Lattisaw, Eric Gable, David Peaston, Marla Gibbs, Surface, Antonio "L.A." Reid, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Paula Abdul, Lisa Stansfield, Heavy D & The Boyz, Troop Larry Blackmon, Stevie Wonder, Anita Baker, Kenny G, Guy, Deniece Williams, Michael Bolton, Tone Loc, Edwin Hawkins

Quincy Jones The Secret Garden Live Soul Train Awards 1991