From brain aneurysm to diabetic coma: History of Quincy Jones' health issues explored as legendary record producer dies at 91

Legendary music producer Quincy Jones passed away on November 3, 2024, at the age of 91 in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles. His cause of death has not been disclosed.

Jones' publicist, Arnold Robinson, confirmed the news via an official statement. A statement by his family said:

“Tonight, with full but broken hearts, we must share the news of our father and brother Quincy Jones’ passing. And 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.”

Jones was best known for working with multiple renowned artists, including Frank Sinatra and Michael Jackson. He produced Jackson's best-selling 1982 album, Thriller.

In a career spanning over 75 years, Jones received 28 Grammy Awards and two honorary Academy Awards. He was the most nominated artist in the history of the Grammys with 80 nominations until Jay-Z and Beyoncé surpassed him this decade.

Despite his successful career, Quincy Jones faced multiple health problems over the years, including brain aneurysm, diabetic coma, and depression. The music titan spoke about his health struggles in multiple interviews and public statements over the years.

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Brain aneurysm, diabetic coma, and other health conditions of Quincy Jones explored

Jones at WEA Meetings (Image via Getty)

Quincy Jones' struggles with health issues began in his childhood. According to a 2001 biography by Linda N. Bayer, Jones' mother, Sarah, suffered from severe mental health issues that arose after the birth of her son.

Jones' mother was hospitalized for long periods during Jones' formative years. As per Bayer, Quincy Jones and his siblings shared a troubled relationship with their mother. Sarah passed away in 1991. In his 2018 documentary titled Quincy, Jones spoke about his mother's mental health struggles, saying:

"My mother suffered from mental illness. She was a brilliant woman who spoke several languages and had degrees from several colleges, but she had this condition that debilitated her, which today could’ve been controlled with medication. But at the time, during the [Great] Depression, they simply would commit you.”

At the age of 14, Jones was also the victim of a car accident that tragically killed four of his friends, per CNN. The incident reportedly had a significant impact on his mental health and wellbeing.

At the age of 15, Quincy Jones began using heroin. In a 2018 interview with THR, he recalled that Ray Charles introduced him to the drug when they met at the beginning of his jazz career. As reported by Vibe, despite developing an addiction, Jones overcame it in later years after falling down a flight of stairs.

In 1974, Jones suffered two fatal brain aneurysm attacks while at the peak of his career. In a Facebook post from 2018, he recalled the painful period of his life, writing:

"[I]t felt like a shotgun was fired inside of my head. While operating for 7.5 hours, my doctors discovered a second aneurysm that was ready to blow, so they had to schedule a second operation.

Quincy Jones' Facebook post dated 2018 (Image via Facebook/QuincyJones)

Although Quincy Jones recovered from this condition, he was unable to play the trumpet after the aneurysm to prevent the strain of the instrument from worsening his condition. Speaking of the condition, he told the LA Times:

"The main artery in my brain is held together with a clip. Deep-sea diving and playing the trumpet blow that thing straight off."

In the mid-1980s, Quincy Jones also battled depression. The music producer revealed that he turned to music to get out of the depressive phase. In the 2018 documentary Quincy, he said:

“I am curious about everything, man. But particularly how music affects the mind, body and soul, which I know it does. Music is the only art form that can evoke a visceral and spiritual emotion in a person.”

In 2015, Quincy Jones suffered from a diabetic coma. The music titan spoke about his condition at length in a Facebook post from December 2019. He shared that he had to make multiple health adjustments to recover, including quitting alcohol and sugar. He wrote:

"In 2015, I went into a diabetic coma & took what should’ve been my last breath. By the grace of God I made it through, but not without having to make some MAJOR adjustments."

He added:

"Having come up with the likes of Ray Charles & Frank Sinatra, I had enough alcohol to last multiple lifetimes, & the doctors told me I had to call it quits!! After substituting drinking with eating sugar free popsicles, I lost 50 pounds, & started feeling 37 again. My mind cleared up & it brought back incredible memories I shared with mentors who helped me along the way."

Quincy Jones's Facebook post dated December 2019 (Image via Facebook/QuincyJones)

In June 2023, Quincy Jones was rushed to the hospital due to a medical emergency. One of his reps told TMZ that it was due to a "bad reaction to some food he ate."

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As of writing, Jones' reps have not disclosed the cause of his death.