Q gives nod to Sinatra at SMU
Quincy gave a nod to his old friends Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles while speaking to students Tuesday (Oct. 7) at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
During his speech, part of SMU’s Tate Lecture Series, Quincy noted that it was the 50th anniversary of Sinatra christening him with the nickname “Q” and showed the crowd the ring he wears, which was a gift from the crooner known as Ol’ Blue Eyes.
Frank Sinatra with Quincy in the studio.
Quincy also related stories about coming of age on the mean streets of Chicago and the challenges he and his friend Ray Charles faced head on as young working musicians in Seattle.
As smudailycampus.com contributing writer Marlee Klein reported, “Jones spoke with humility as he described his rocky beginnings in life and music career, and how he was able to succeed with a little luck and a lot of talent.”
To celebrate Quincy’s relationship with Sinatra and the anniversary of the nickname Q, here’s Ol’ Blue Eyes singing “Fly Me to the Moon,” backed by Count Basie & His Orchestra, arranged and conducted by none other than Quincy Jones.
quincy jones, the man, i grew up on you and am amazed at you accomplishments and am overwhelmed with joy of your life blessing and when i looked at your page and saw you with these old cats a young man arranging for the late great frankie, baby you are the man, the coolest, most, beautiful, brilliant display of coolness, this young g can learn from the Q, no question Essence was on it to pick you as one of the coolest cats…The Q cat is that! the music was Q I Love You Baby many blessings
Q,I Love this true story of you&Frank Sinatra,of him giving you-your ultra cool nickname(Q)Congrats on Ebony,pickin u as The coolest,I have to agree on that fact-u r the coolest!When I lived in CA.(near Palm Springs)During that time,I was Singing as Marilyn Monroe@Mineral Springs Resort(1997)and I’d always sing”NewYork,NYNY”as being a Sinatra fan!I wrote to him,&received a Personal Autographed 8×10 Photo of Frank-I was so thrilled! Love&music,Melinda Neal
Q,By the way”Fly me to the Moon”is one of my husband&I favorite Sinatra song,that we sing together!Keep on groovin,Corneilus&Melinda