The officer and the artist
“I wouldn’t let him in my house!” joked Colin Powell in the direction of Quincy Jones on Tuesday night at AARP Magazine’s Inspire Awards. We had just asked if Powell and his wife, Alma, would consider putting up the legendary producer at his home during inauguration week.
As he walked the red carpet, Powell also instructed Jones to “stop lying” to the media members assembled. But he made sure we knew he was kidding, referring to Jones as “my brother.”
Although he was involved in planning the music for President Clinton’s first inauguration, Jones said he has yet to be contacted about assisting in entertainment for Barack Obama’s celebration. But if they’re going to ask him, they’d better hurry, he added. “It’s not like you can just throw a bunch of acts together,” he said.
As far as Obama’s priorities go, Jones said the top priority for him is the establishment of a Secretary of the Arts in the cabinet, who would be tasked with promoting music, performance and visual art at the federal level.
