Bermudians have reflected on memorable times they encountered the legendary producer and composer Quincy Jones, who passed away on Sunday night at the age of 91.

The award-winning artist and arranger is known for producing Michael Jackson's record-breaking Thriller album in 1982 as well the King of Pop’s Off The Wall and Bad albums.

Jones, who remains the third top Grammy award winner of all time with 28 awards, topped the bill at the 2009 Bermuda Music Festival, conducting an international orchestra on two nights in Dockyard.

Bermudian singer Gita Blakeney Saltus not only had the rare opportunity to serenade her idol on stage at the festival — she and her husband, Gary Saltus, were later invited to enjoy Christmas dinner at Jones’s Beverly Hills home in California with a host of celebrities.

She said: “Quincy Jones was a living icon and having the opportunity to sing to him was the most memorable and magical experience of my life.

“He was such a maestro and he worked with some of the greatest artists in the world. His music spanned decades of relationships with so many iconic artists.

“On stage, he gave me an applause and a kiss on the cheek. It was just incredible. It was literally surreal to a degree.

“He was always, to me, the most amazing idol. I felt the tenderness of this giant musical genius.”

Jones must have been impressed with Ms Blakeney Saltus because he invited her and her husband to share Christmas Day at his house with the likes of Lionel Richie; Gregory Phillinganes, the American keyboardist, vocalist and arranger; Patti Austin, the American pop and jazz singer; and Rickey Minor, an American bass player, music director and producer.

Ms Blakeney Saltus recalled: “It was awesome. We walked into his home, which was quite something. He had so many memorabilia. He was in his sunken living area and he gave me the biggest hug. We gave him a Gombey statue as a gift and he was so grateful.”

Ewart Brown, then premier, was responsible, along with Rock Newman, an American producer, for landing Jones for the festival, which had to be run on a budget.

Dr Brown met Jones on the “pink carpet” at the premiere of This is It, the Michael Jackson film directed by Kenny Ortega, at Liberty Theatre.

He also did a radio interview with Jones ahead of the music festival.

The line-up for the shows included Ne-Yo, the three-times Grammy Award winning US singer/songwriter, and Wyclef Jean, the Haitian rapper and record producer, who also won three Grammys.

Dr Brown said: “It is always sad when a giant passes and Quincy was definitely that. Quincy came to Bermuda essentially because we had a limited budget. As my mother used to say, we had a champagne appetite on a beer budget.

“Rock Newman was my friend for many years. I asked him to take the lead and organise the festival. The first thing he had to do was get the talent but he said the talent you want, you cannot afford.

“We thought about it and then he came up with the idea of getting Quincy. It wasn’t until later I figured out his thinking. If he could get Quincy, there was no one who would tell him no. That is how the festival turned out to be one of the best we ever had.

“Rock’s plan worked beyond the festival. He brought some influential people in the business and a lot of Bermudians had access to them.

“When we were in Bermuda, he gave my wife and I a set of Egyptian bracelets that he said would keep us safe no matter what we were going through. He was very spiritual.

“He was wide open, gracious and just special.”

Dr Brown said the 2009 festival was only surpassed in quality by that of the previous year that came at a cost of $3 million and Beyoncé and Alicia Keys headlined.

Reflecting on Jones’s life, Dr Brown added: “Quincy was a godfather. Everybody in the industry and outside always demonstrated respect and love for Quincy.

"He was the essential element of the entertainment world. He pulled together all the singers for We Are The World — only Quincy could have done that.“

Glenn Blakeney, the chief executive and chairman of Inter-Island Communications, was the co-producer of the local acts at the festival along with Kevin Smith, of GET Security.

Mr Blakeney and one of his co-producers, Orville Malcolm, met Jones after the festival. Mr Blakeney recalls: “It was such an honour and privilege to have an opportunity to meet him in person.

“He was relaxing with Wyclef Jean and we approached him. He was very gracious. I took a photo of him and Orville together and it was Orville’s birthday.

“Quincy was such a humble and giving person, a visionary, an iconic producer and musician. He was someone who was committed to not just discovering, but encouraging and advising new talent.

“What I remember most was his humility. He was extremely committed to the advancement of music in a positive light unlike much of the music today, which is more about chasing the dollars.”

Ms Blakeney Saltus’s niece, Leah Smith, also met Jones after the festival.

She said: “Meeting Quincy was an unforgettable experience that I have cherished for as long as I can remember. Being able to witness such a prominent figurehead in the music industry relish the moment with my incredibly talented auntie is something that I will for ever be grateful for.”

Bermudian cinematographer Kalilah Robinson landed the lead photography role for a documentary called My Life about the Queen of hip-hop R&B Mary J Blige.

Ms Robinson filmed iconic music and cultural icons, who were interviewed as part of the documentary. Jones was the executive music producer.

Steve Easton, the late Bermudian owner and producer of Just Platinum studio, who passed away in 2018, did a masterclass seminar with Mr Malcolm and Bruce Swedien, who is renowned for being the engineer on all the Michael Jackson songs produced by Quincy Jones.

Bermudian prodigy Malcolm Hollis, who was 10, performed before Jones at the This is It premiere.