Quincy Jones to deliver SXSW 2009 keynote address

Quincy Jones has been announced as the keynote speaker at the 2009 South By Southwest Music Conference in March.

A legendary producer, composer and arranger, Jones was behind Michael Jackson's 'Off The Wall', 'Bad' and 'Thriller' albums, the latter being the biggest-selling LP of all time.

Jones was also responsible for producing and conducting the all-star 'We Are The World' single in 1985 for Ethiopian famine relief.

At the keynote speech on March 19, Jones is expected to discuss the power of music to influence and create positive change in the world.

As previously reported, a Quincy Jones tribute album is currently in the works, and Mark Ronson is working with Amy Winehouse on a cover of Lesley Gore's 1964 hit 'You Don't Own Me' for the project.

Quincy Jones is a 27-time Grammy Award winner and is the all-time most nominated Grammy artist, with a total of 79 nominations.

The South By Southwest Music & Media Conference takes place between March 18 and 22, 2009.

--By our New York staff.
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