How is Quincy Jones connected to Austin Powers? Exploring the significance of Soul Bossa Nova in wake of his death 

Quincy Jones, an executive producer of different TV shows, passed away on Sunday, November 3, at the age of 91. The circumstances surrounding his death have not been officially disclosed, though he had struggled with health issues in the past, including brain aneurysms.

The record producer contributed as a composer to films such as In the Heat of the Night, The Wiz, In Cold Blood, and more. He also worked with Michael Jackson, producing three albums for the late pop star, including Bad.

Apart from this, Jones was associated with the popular spy comedy film, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. His instrumental Soul Bossa Nova from the album Big Band Bossa Nova was used during the film's opening credits.

Quincy's representative, Arnold Robinson, revealed the news of his death while speaking to Variety, stating that Quincy's "heart will beat for eternity" with his music. He further stated:

"Although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him."

Quincy Jones also composed music for TV shows like Sanford and Son. He arranged Frank Sinatra's album It Might as Well Be Swing and had multiple solo albums to his credit, including I Dig Dancers, Golden Boy, Mellow Madness, and The Dude.

He worked with record labels like Warner Bros., Interscope, and Columbia. Born in March 1933, he developed an interest in music as a student at Garfield High School. Jones also played for a band at Seattle University.

Jones is survived by his daughters Jolie Jones Levine, Rachel Jones, Martina Jones, Kidada Jones, and Kenya Kinski-Jones, his son Quincy Jones III, his brother Richard Jones, and his sisters Theresa Frank and Margie Jay.

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Quincy Jones' Soul Bossa Nova was later used in other projects

As mentioned, Quincy's instrumental became an important part of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. The tune was also used in the soundtrack of the 1964 drama film, The Pawnbroker. It even became a theme song for Definition, a popular game show.

In a 2010 interview with Billboard, Quincy Jones recalled the time when he created the song, saying:

"I wrote that in 1962 in 20 minutes for a big band Bossa Nova album right after we left Brazil with Dizzy Gilespie, when the bossa nova first started. And it won't go away. Mike Myers used it for the themes of the Austin Powers films. [Now] Ludacris did it too. It's still here."

Quincy's statement referred to Ludacris' single Number One Spot, which came out in 2005 and sampled Soul Bossa Nova in most of the parts. While Quincy never responded to Ludacris' track, he did discuss the process of sampling while speaking to Revolt in 2021.

Jones referred to young people as seekers, adding that they would always be like that. He said that the situation was similar to his early days when he tried to find the truth about anything, describing it as the "central tenet of jazz and classical music." He continued:

"It all comes from the same stuff. I fell in love with hip hop in the late 1970s because it reminded me so much of bebop, and classical strings are what elevated some of the world's best funk music."

In another interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2017, Quincy Jones shared more details about how he became involved with Austin Powers. He said that he met Mike Myers, the film's lead, while hosting Saturday Night Live in 1990. After developing a close friendship, Jones allowed the use of the song. Myers praised the song in the interview, as he said:

"The song "Soul Bossa Nova" was on a game show in Canada called Definition. It was just swinger music. Quincy Jones has to remaster it. I remember, because it speeds up and slows down."

The 1997 film was followed by two sequels, both of which also featured the same theme song. The first installment turned out to be successful at the box office, grossing almost $67 million.