Quincy Jones was a recent guest The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast in an effort to promote his new Netflix documentary, Quincy.
During the conversation, the music industry legend revealed Ray Charles had him hooked on heroin for a five-month period when he was just 15 years old.
“After we finished at the Washington Social Club and a couple of other ones, we’d all go down to Jackson Street to the Elks Club,” he explained. “That’s where all the bebop jam sessions were. Nobody got paid. We didn’t give a damn.
“When they finished playing they’d go over in the corner and they had it on their thumb. I just snuck in the line and got me a little hit.”
Jones, 85, confessed he would buy the heroin from a Harlem dealer they called Detroit Red — otherwise known as Malcolm X. He said had he not fallen down a flight of stairs and been put on bed rest, he never would’ve had a chance to come to grips with what the drug was doing to him.
“The mistakes are what help you grow and learn,” he said. “That was a big one. [If I hadn’t fallen.] I would have been in New York, where I was hanging out with [jazz musician] Charlie Parker. I would have been a junkie forever. Bird was always high. Thank god we did it and got it over with.”
Quincy was co-directed by one of Jones’ seven children, daughter Rashida Jones, and Australian jazz musician-turned-filmmaker Al Hicks.
Listen to the full episode of the Awards Chatter podcast here. The drug conversation begins around the 26-minute mark.
Wow
2Pac said he tried to make him fuck him up the bum too.
one of, if not the single GOAT producer, all genres and decades considered. read his autobiography, a great read.. interesting and informative.
What a life! This man has literally done it alll.
nobodys questioning this story?
Why would he lie? To get peanuts from Netflix views? This man has nuff accolades and awards and money. He’s actually lived the life he said he has. There’s no reason to lie.
Kinda speaking ill of the dead, Ray Charles can’t defend himself but nobody cares. Vic Mensa does it, ppl start crying.
didn’t he do the same thing to Richard Pryor?
Why is this old fool now speaking ill of those who have passed on!! So disrespectful!!
He didn’t criticise Ray Charles tho
In my lost Vinyl collection I had Ray Charles album in fair condition it’s a reward for DJ Yogi Vinyl collection . Bring back the Jenny Jones show we can never have a buff platforms share people testimonys big ups to Quincy Jones.
Only Quincy Jones can do heroin for 5 months- at the tender age of 15- and be able to shake that shit off him. SMH What an ego this man has.
QUINCY IS THE CHATTY PATTY OF THE YEAR. I RESPECT THE ACCOLADES, BUT THIS OLD MAN TALKS TOO DAMN MUCH.
And guess who got Ray Charles addicted to heroin? Let’s just say those people who control the whole entertainment industry (hint: not white people).
He might be hooked on that boy right now with all the drama/nonsense he’s been talking all year.
Don’t do heroin. Quincy’s the GOAT.