Quincy Jones died aged 91 (Ian West/PA)
Many people say you should never meet your heroes, especially in the world of music. But I believe that’s mistaken.
Several years ago, I found myself in the company of some of the world’s most influential figures. It was a major Global symposium in Dublin, held at the Four Seasons Hotel—now known as the Intercontinental. The room was filled with an astonishing mix of people: President Bill Clinton, Jean Kennedy Smith, Frank McCourt, and even the Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Amid all the diplomacy and high-profile conversations and security detail, I encountered a musical giant, someone whose work had not only influenced me but had also shaped modern music: Quincy Jones.