Paul McCartney has paid tribute to his late friend, the legendary producer Quincy Jones

Yesterday (November 4), the music world was shaken by the news of Quincy Jones’ death. His publicist confirmed that the legendary producer had died surrounded by family on Sunday, November 3.

Now, McCartney – who had first met Jones in the early 1960s – has paid tribute to the late producer in a lengthy post on social media. In the post, Macca recalled being introduced to Jones via The Beatles‘ producer George Martin and his “very positive, loving spirit”.

McCartney wrote: “Dear Quincy Jones has passed and left those of us who knew him feeling sad. He was supremely talented, and I felt privileged to have known him for many years. He was friends with George Martin, the Beatles’ producer and, between the two of them, produced some very fine music.

“Quincy or ‘Quince’ or ‘Q’, as he was known, always had a twinkle in his eye and had a very positive, loving spirit which infected everyone who knew him. His work with Michael Jackson is, of course, legendary and he had so many other strings to his musical bow.”

“My main recollections of him were always the private moments that we shared, and I will never stop thanking Nancy for always arranging to visit him when we were in Los Angeles. These visits were fun and inspiring,” McCartney continued. “But it is as a friend I would like to remember him. We always had fun in his presence and his legend will continue through the years, but it is those private moments we were lucky enough to have with the great man that I will always remember fondly.”

The long-standing friendship between Jones and McCartney included a series of playful back-and-forth jabs between the two. In 2018, Jones said in an interview with Vulture that Paul McCartney was “the worst bass player I ever heard” and that Beatles were “no-playing motherfuckers”. Shortly after the interview, McCartney revealed that Jones had called him up to explain the situation and that the pair laughed about the incident.

Over the years, Jones worked with countless artists including Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Michael Jackson who he famously produced the iconic albums ‘Off The Wall’, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’ with. ‘Thriller’ is still the biggest selling album of all time.

He also oversaw the all-star recording of 1985 charity record ‘We Are The World’ which was helmed by himself Jackson, Lionel Richie and producer Michael Omartian and raised funds for famine relief in Ethiopia in 1985.

Among the numerous people who have paid tribute to Jones since the news of his death include Nile Rodgers, Michael Cane, Will Smith and more.