CHICAGO (WLS) — It’s hard to find anyone in the music, television or film industry who didn’t have some connection to Quincy Jones.

Hermene Hartman, the founder of N’DIGO, a pioneer in the media and a legend herself, spoke of fond, loving memories with her old mentor and friend with whom she just spoke last week before his death.

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“He was love and creativity,” Hartman said. “His middle name was delight and that was the right name for him. He was delight and he was joy.”

Hartman met Jones in 1973 and continued their friendship for five decades.

“Well, he was a genius first and foremost,” Hartman said. He was a musical genius, he was the maestro, but he was so creative and he was so enthusiastic, not just for himself… But when he saw talent, he was just drawn and it was like okay, let me help you, let me develop You. Let’s do this. Let’s do that.”

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Jones, a native of Chicago’s South Side, said music saved him. He rose to the top of show business and became one of the first black executives to achieve success in Hollywood.

The renowned music producer, composer, multi-genre artist and humanist has worked with all the greats.

He met his friend and collaborator Ray Charles during high school.

In 1978, Jones produced the soundtrack for The Wiz, where he met entertainment legend Michael Jackson.

Their collaboration led to Jackson’s Blockbuster “Thriller” album, which sold more than 100 million records worldwide.

“The music world has lost a giant, but he influenced everyone. I mentioned him from bebop to hip-hop,” Hartman said.

He was also the man behind the all-star charity single ‘We Are The World’.

Hartman is both a joker and a perfectionist and says he will be remembered as one of the greatest minds in music and television history.

“The projects never ended,” Hartman said. “He never stopped and would tell you so. Don’t stop, whatever you do, don’t stop, just keep doing it.’

Quincy Jones died at the age of 91. Among his many honors, Jones received a National Medal of Arts, an honorary E-GOT winner and has won 28 Grammy Awards.

His family said he died peacefully at his home in Bel Air, surrounded by family.