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Two-time Grammy winner James Ingram, whose signature timbre instantly evokes the classic R&B sound of the 1980s, has died. He was 66. Ingram's passing was announced on Twitter by the actress Debbie Allen. "I have lost my dearest friend and creative partner James Ingram to the Celestial Choir," she  wrote . "He will always be cherished, loved and remembered for his genius, his love of family and his humanity. I am blessed to have been so close." When he was 18, Ingram joined a band called Revelation Funk and tried to make it in Los Angeles, the  Chicago Tribune  reported  in a 2012 profile. Comparing himself to his bandmates, Ingram underestimated his own vocal abilities. "I knew I couldn't sing," he said. "I wasn't trying. I was just doing background." After the band broke up, Ingram stayed in L.A. and got great backup gigs, working with Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye. He would sing and write demos at a studio on Sunset...

At 85 years old, #QuincyJones is one of the most influential people in the history of recorded music, yet I would guess that, in 2018, many casual music fans would be hard-pressed to explain what exactly he actually did. Jones’ name has been legendary in music circles for more than half a century, but much of his résumé consists of terms and vocations that are now obsolete, at least as far as mainstream pop is concerned. He was a trumpet prodigy who befriended Ray Charles and joined Lionel Hampton’s band while still a teenager. Before turning 30, he’d become one of the most in-demand arrangers in the biz and the musical consigliere to Frank Sinatra. By the 1970s, he was the quintessential superproducer and “record man,” an indefatigable hit-maker and general entertainment-industry Svengali. He did all this even before he began a collaboration with ex-Motown star Michael Jackson that would reach its apex in 1982 with  Thriller , the most commercially successful album ever ...

Netflix is keeping it all in the family for its new documentary on Quincy Jones, directed by Alan Hicks and the jazz musician’s daughter Rashida Jones. The streaming giant announced Wednesday that the doc, titled “Quincy,” will debut on Netflix Sept. 21. “Quincy” will explore Quincy Jones’ life and career through a combination of modern day and archival footage, highlighting his musical evolution as a trumpeter, producer, conductor, composer, and arranger. “It’s rare that somebody who has lived as much life as my dad is still interested in growing and knowing the next generation,” Rashida Jones said. “He is such a man of action and accomplishments, but we were so lucky to spend real time with him, to let him reflect on life and the larger picture. I feel honored to be able to share that with audiences all over the world.” The film will look into the mentorship relationships Quincy Jones has formed over the years with fellow musicians and members of the entertainment indust...