POP/ROCK - Jan. 22, 1990

Jones Gets Legion of Honor: Quincy Jones was awarded the French Legion of Honor Sunday for his musical contribution as a trumpeter, composer, arranger and record producer. In presenting the medal to Jones, Thierry de Beauce, secretary of state for international cultural relations, called Jones “a man who reconciles the rhythms of rock, jazz and bop.” Jones, 56, is well-known on both sides of the Atlantic. He first went to France in 1953 at age 19 with Lionel Hampton’s orchestra. His career since then includes collaboration with some of America and France’s greatest artists--Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Jacques Brel, Michel Legrand, Miles Davis, Ray Charles and Charles Aznavour. As a record producer, Jones was responsible for two of the most successful albums of the 1980s--Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Bad.” After six years of producing, Jones released his own album, “Back on the Block,” which has risen to 16th place on U.S. charts since its December release.