Magic Johnson pays tribute to Quincy Jones’ memory, highlighting his iconic 'We Are the World' creation

Former LA Lakers star Magic Johnson paid tribute to the late Quincy Jones on Monday, following the music icon's passing on Sunday. Johnson wrote a lengthy message on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the impact of Jones, who helped discover and produce for many musical artists.

Johnson was among many celebrities who paid tribute to Jones for his work in the music industry. As a player for the Lakers, the 6-foot-9 point guard had the chance to meet the artist several times. In his appreciation post on social media, he posted a few photos of their encounters.

According to his tribute, the five-time champion considers the legend as one of his friends.

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"I’m deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend and an all-time icon, Quincy D. Jones. Quincy had an exceptional ear for music," Johnson wrote. "Through his incredible talents as an artist, composer, and producer, he exemplified true artistry and innovation throughout his unrivaled career. There will never be another Quincy D. Jones!"

"Quincy Jones' legacy goes far beyond his musical achievements; he had a God-given gift for connecting people through music, which he used to make the world a better place.

Johnson credited the music icon for the charity song "We Are The World." The song - which featured legendary musicians like Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, etc. - was recorded to raise money for hunger victims in Ethiopia.

The song won four Grammy awards in 1986 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2021.

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"A perfect example of this is the infamous 4x Grammy Award-winning song “We Are the World,” the star-studded song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie which he co-produced and conducted... Cookie and I are keeping the entire Jones family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time."

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Magic Johnson highlighted Quincy Jones' best work in the music industry

Magic Johnson knew that Jones was one of the most recognizable names in the music business. In his tribute, Johnson spoke highly of how good of a music producer the late artist was. The former Lakers star said that being a music producer, the Chicago native was unmatched.

Johnson cited Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Nat King Cole, and others as examples of Jones' best group shows. The former NBA star highlighted the music producer's work with the late Michael Jackson. During their time together, the two collaborated on three albums: "Off the Wall," "Thriller," and "Bad."

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