American record producer, composer, conductor, and arranger born March 14, 1933, in Chicago, Illinois; died November 3, 2024. Among the most influential figures in 20th-century popular music. Produced the three best-selling Michael Jackson albums (Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad) — Thriller (1982) remains the best-selling album in history at over 70 million copies.
Released numerous solo and big-band albums including The Dude (1981) and Back on the Block (1989). Composed extensively for film and television including In the Heat of the Night (1967), In Cold Blood (1967), and The Wiz (1978). Won 28 Grammy Awards from 80 nominations, the second-most in Grammy history. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Died at age 91.
