Quincy Jones was a record producer and composer whose awards include a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and 28 Grammy Awards. The list of albums, films, and television shows he worked on from the 1960s until his death in 2024 would be lengthy, but many of them would not have come to fruition had he remembered something.
On August 8, 1969, Steve McQueen, the actor who earned the nickname the “King of Cool,” called Quincy and wanted his, Quincy’s, hairdresser Jay Sebring to meet Peter Yates. Peter had just directed what has become one of Steve McQueen’s most notable films, Bullitt. Quincy recalled, Jay Sebring “was my barber and the most famous hairstylist in Hollywood.” Quincy agreed and picked Jay up. As they were driving to meet Peter, Jay invited Quincy to a small get together later that evening at 10050 Cielo Drive in Los Angeles. Quincy was familiar with that residence because he had almost bought the house a year or two earlier. Quincy was working on the musical score and soundtrack for the comedy film The Out-of-Towners starring Jack Lemmon but said he would stop by after he finished work for the day. Quincy dropped Jay off and returned to work. Hours later, Quincy went home and went to bed. He completely forgot about meeting Jay and his friends.
On the following morning, August 9, 1969, Quincy’s friend, actor Bill Cosby, called him from London. “Did you hear about Jay?” Quincy replied, “What about Jay? He was with me last night.” Bill told him, “He’s dead.” Quincy was in shock. In disbelief, he called Sebring International, Jay Sebring’s company. When Quincy asked about Jay, the person on the other end of the line asked, “Who’s this?” Quincy replied, “Quincy Jones.” The person said, “Jay Sebring is dead,” and hung up. Quincy turned on the television and saw “all the bodies spread out on the lawn with sheets covering them.” Quincy was lucky because that slip of memory saved his life. Jay Sebring was just one of the unlucky people to be at 10050 Cielo Drive that fateful night. Quincy said, “I knew them all, man. I knew them all. Heavy scene.” The others who were unlucky to be at that home were Wojciech Frykowski, Steven Parent, Abigail Folger, and Sharon Tate and her unborn child, all victims of a murder spree led by Charles Manson. Quincy Jones was lucky to have forgotten about the party invitation, though he never forgot the horrible event that took place that night. It troubled him for the rest of his life.
Sources:
1. Alex Simon, “Quincy Jones Talks Keepin’ On and Other Pearls of Wisdom,” The Hollywood Interview, accessed September 20, 2026, https://thehollywoodinterview.
2. Chris Heath, Quincy Jones Has a Story About That,” GQ, January 29, 2018, accessed September 20, 2026, https://www.gq.com/story/
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