Quincy Jones Reveals Ray Charles Got Him Hooked On Heroin At 15
Source: Paul Morigi / Getty
Quincy Jones is an icon living and in a recent interview shared more about some of our favorite music legends. He also spoke about working in the music industry and how his career developed. According to The Jasmine Brand, in a recent interview he got candid when speaking about his relationship with Michael Jackson as well as spending time with Ray Charles.
Sign Up For Our Newsletter!
Jones recalls the day him and Charles were at a hotel and the topics of Malcolm X and heroin came up. He said, “Ray Charles was 17, I was 14. He taught me how to read music in braille. He was… In front of the Majestic hotel in Detroit; we used to call him ‘Detroit Red.’ [He] had his Italian suits on – that’s why when Spike Lee did Malcolm X, I said, ‘Malcolm couldn’t walk around the Blue Zoot’s marching down the street, he’s a dope dealer.’ He [Ray Charles] got me hooked for five months, at 15. After we’d finish the Washington Social club and a couple of other ones, we’d all go down to Jackson street to the Elks club. When they’d finish playing, everybody would go into a corner, Ray would let me get in the corner, and they had it on their thumb. I just snuck in a line and got me a little hit.”
RELATED: Quincy Jones Daughter To Co-Direct Netflix Doc About Her Dad
Jones admits to falling down nearly five flights of steps because he was so high. During the interview he also talked about being a father figure to Jackson and how he feels about the kind of music that is out today. Jones said about the sound of music today that, “It represents the generation, as all of them do. But you know, there’s a whole crop of young people, including Kendrick Lamar and Chance that are something else. Your music can never be more or less than you are as a human being, so you start to work on the human being.” Jones currently has a documentary on Netflix and fans love the fact that he continues to share stories from the past.
RELATED: Quincy Jones’ Daughters Held An Intervention For Him After His Recent Interview “Wordvomit”
RELATED: Tevin Campbell Addresses The Rumor That Quincy Jones Molested Him
- Urban One Radiothon For St. Jude Kids Raises $1.6 Million
- The 50 Hottest, Flyest & Sexiest Looks from Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter’ Tour
- Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2025
- US Embassy Official Told Trump’s South African Refugee Program Is For White People Only, New Report Says
- Celebs Who Turn 50 This Year
The Latest:
- Love Island Winners Amaya and Bryan Unfollow Each Other: Is It Over?
- Kendrick Lamar Pops Out at Clipse Show for “Chains & Whips”
- Gov. Moore Fires Back As Trump Threatens Baltimore Troops And Key Bridge Funds
- B-Side Bangers: Aaliyah
- 10 Rising Black Women In Comedy You Should Absolutely Be Watching
- Tyler, The Creator, Childish Gambino & Doechii To Headline Camp Flog Gnaw 2025
- I Got Questions: Bonus Time With Ghostface, Big Daddy Kane
- Howard University President Ben Vinson III Steps Down
- Cardi Seemingly Responds To Rumors She’s Pregnant Again With Cryptic Tweet After Slamming Suspicious Fans On IG Live
- Mariah Carey to Receive Vanguard Award at 2025 VMAs
