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Jones honored for support of athletes with intellectual disabilities around the world
By Ryan Eades
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Quincy poses with Special Olympics athletes. From left David Thomason, Paul Maretti, Jones, Frank Stephens, Loretta Claiborne. (Photos courtesy Larry Levin) |
Special Olympics honored longtime supporter, Quincy Jones, at a 75th birthday bash for the Academy Award-winning film composer held on 23 April 2008 at the Kalorama home of Michael Klein and Joan Fabry in Washington, DC.
More than 150 guests including musicians, athletes, members of Congress, US ambassadors, business executives and philanthropic leaders attended the festivities to personally give Quincy their best wishes. The evening's highlights included the reading of a personal message from United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, a surprise phone call from the legendary Stevie Wonder, and a surprise visit from former Secretary of State General Colin Powell.
“What an incredible surprise,” said Jones of the phone call by his close friend Stevie Wonder.
WTTG Fox 5's Steve Chenevey shares his insight to Special Olympics' celebration of Quincy Jones' 75th birthday View photo slideshow (Photos courtesy Will Schemerhorn) |
Wonder wished his friend happy birthday by saying, “For as many years as you live, which ought to be at least 175 I love you a million times over for your heart and for your consistency as a friend.” He later joked, “I think if there was not a Barack Obama I would vote for you as President.” Wonder then asked fellow musician Frederic Yonnet to play “Happy Birthday” on the harmonica from Stevie to Quincy.
In another of the evening's surprises former Secretary of State General Colin Powell came to wish Jones a happy birthday and said a few words to the crowd. “I'm very please to come by this event and pay my respects to my dear friend Quincy Jones and to also pay respects to the Special Olympics movement. There are 300 million Americans now on a playing field with billions of people so everyone human life is precious and with every human life we've got to find a way to take advantage of what that person brings to the table with their skills and their motivation. If they have some problem let's work on that problem or disability and turn disability into ability and make sure the young person understands that it isn't what you don't have, but what you do have that counts, so I'm a big supporter of Special Olympics.”
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Quincy is introduced to the crowd by Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver, left center, and Special Olympics athletes. |
In her letter to Jones, Secretary Rice congratulated Jones on his 75th birthday and expressed her, “admiration for your groundbreaking contributions to one of the greatest joys in my life - music - and for your continued devotion to improving the lives of others through charities like the Special Olympics.”
Lions Club International Chairman Jimmy Ross also congratulated Quincy on his special occasion by saying, “What Special Olympics is able to do is change people's lives and Quincy has been a big part of this movement. He's not only been there for financial means but his support has been able to bring other people into the movement and strengthen it and make it a worldwide movement. To be here tonight to celebrate Quincy's 75th birthday is quite an honor.”
“Quincy Jones is the definition of legend and he has made immeasurable contributions that have helped to further the Special Olympics movement globally,” said Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver. “Tonight was just an opportunity for us to say thanks and to show Quincy that he has made a difference in the lives of every one of our 2.8 million athletes around the world.”
“It's an honor for us to welcome everyone to our home to celebrate not only the 75th birthday of an Olympian of American music but his dedication to the Special Olympics movement,” said the evening's host Michael Klein. “Quincy's music has enriched all of us just as Special Olympics has enriched the lives of so many and empowered so many people all over the world.”
Jones expressed his gratitude to his many well-wishers by saying, “I can't tell you how honored and grateful I am to be here tonight with everyone, especially the Special Olympics athletes and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me grow younger. My favorite expression is you never get an 'A' if you are afraid to get an 'F' and I'm always going to go after that 'A', I hope you do too.”
Jones has been an ardent supporter of Special Olympics since 1992 when he produced the Luther Vandross tune “The Christmas Song” for the album “A Very Special Christmas II.” He composed the inspirational theme song, “I Know I Can,” for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in China which was performed during the Opening Ceremonies and broadcasted live throughout China on CCTV and in 80 countries worldwide, including on ABC Family in the U.S. He is the most-nominated Grammy artist of all time, with an unsurpassed 76 nominations and 26 awards.
Jones, who received an Emmy Award, seven Oscar nominations, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, has championed Special Olympics athletes by attending the 2003 and 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games and Youth Summits in Ireland and China, respectively, and was a guest at the 2007 World Games Africa Reception to commemorate the accomplishments and growth of the Special Olympics Africa region including helping to launch the Africa Trust initiative.
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From left: Quincy Jones, General Colin Powell and Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver pose during Jones' 75th birthday celebration. |
Additionally, the Special Olympics Christmas Record Grant Program is indebted to Jones for his generous help in securing recording artists for the “A Very Special Christmas” album series, proceeds from which are used to benefit Special Olympics Programs around the world.
The birthday celebration for the acclaimed composer was a star-studded event, with well-wishers who included NBA great Sam Perkins; Hon. Elizabeth Bagley, former U.S. Ambassador to Portugal; Dr. Susan Blumenthal, former Assistant U.S. Surgeon General; Hon. Peter Romero, former U.S. Ambassador to Ecuador; former Secretary of Defense William Cohen and his spouse Mrs. Janet Langhart Cohen; Hon. Corrine Brown, U.S. House of Representatives, (D-Florida); Hon. William Lacy Clay Jr., U.S. House of Representatives, (D-Missouri); Hon. John Conyers Jr., U.S. House of Representatives, (D-Michigan); Hon. Jane Harman, U.S. House of Representatives, (D-California); Spouse: Sidney Harman, Harman International Industries, Inc., Executive Chairman; Hon. Patrick J. Kennedy, U.S. House of Representatives, (D-Rhode Island); Hon. Diane E.Watson, U.S. House of Representatives, (D-California); Hon. Maxine Waters, U.S. House of Representatives (D-California); Mrs. Catherine Stevens, Spouse of US Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska); Ed Scott, Founder BEA Systems, Inc.; Jack Davies, Founder of AOL International; Mark Shriver, Managing Director for Save the Children, Hani and Cheryl Masri, Chairman of Capital Investment Management and Founder of Knock Out Abuse, respectively; Catherine B. Reynolds, Founder of Catherine B. Reynolds Foundation, and many others.
Guests enjoyed the vibrant jazz performance of the band ZWEi and were entertained by the Duke Ellington School Choir as they performed Jones' composition “I know I can” and sang a soulful rendition of “Happy Birthday.” |
