Quincy Jones Says Ray Charles Got Him Addicted To Heroin At 15, Also Claims He Brought Drugs From Malcolm X

Legendary musician Quincy Jones has made headlines all year revealing aspects about his life, claiming things from Michael Jackson stealing music from others, to Richard Pryor having a fling with the actor Marlon Brando.

Jones has again revealed another aspect of his life, proving that as you get older, you no longer care about others peorple’s perceptions. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Jones talked about Ray Charles getting him hooked on heroin at the age of 15.

“He got me hooked for five months at 15,” said Jones “After we finished at the Washington Social Club and a couple of other ones, we’d all go down to Jackson Street to the Elks Club. That’s where all the bebop jam sessions were. Nobody got paid. We didn’t give a damn.”

Jones continued to describe their moments of being high and playing together. “When they finished playing, they’d go over in the corner and they had it on their thumb,” he added. “I just snuck in the line and got me a little hit.”

Jones said that the only reason he stopped doing heroin was because of an injury. He fell down five flights of stairs, and while recovering he lost the urge to use. “The mistakes are what help you grow and learn,” he said. If he hadn’t fallen he would have been in New York, and probably been a junkie forever.

Check out the full podcast episode here.