Adam Clayton Powell III recalls Quincy Jones friendship on White House Chronicle

By AI, Created 11:35 PM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Adam Clayton Powell III appears on White House Chronicle this week to reflect on his decades-long friendship with Quincy Jones, including childhood memories in Paris, work at Quincy Jones Entertainment and meetings with Nelson Mandela. The episode begins airing May 22 on PBS and also runs on SiriusXM.

Why it matters: - The episode offers a personal look at Quincy Jones through the lens of a longtime friend who also worked closely with him. - The conversation connects Jones’ life in music with his influence on television, business and international cultural diplomacy. - The program adds a remembrance following Jones’ death on Nov. 3, 2024, at age 91 in Bel Air, California.

What happened: - On this week’s episode of “White House Chronicle,” co-host Adam Clayton Powell III discusses his friendship with Quincy Jones. - The episode begins airing May 22 on PBS. - Llewellyn King interviews Powell on the program. - Powell says he and Jones played checkers together at age 12 in his mother’s Paris apartment. - Powell’s mother was entertainer Hazel Scott. - Powell says the two would discuss Werner Heisenberg while playing checkers. - Powell says he later graduated from MIT. - Powell recounts a 1990 chance meeting at the premiere of a documentary about Jones at Lincoln Center. - That meeting led to Powell becoming executive producer at Quincy Jones Entertainment.

The details: - Powell describes Jones as someone who valued long-term friendship and loyalty above all else, even after years apart and after Jones’ financial success. - Powell says his work at Quincy Jones Entertainment included helping rescue the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s struggling talk show, which later ran on CNN. - Powell also traveled with Jones on business trips. - Powell says he and Jones traveled to London to meet Nelson Mandela after Mandela’s release from prison in South Africa. - Powell says Jones expected South Africa to open up and wanted him ready with contracts for musicians, artists and media companies. - Powell says the episode also explores Jones’ personality, working style and passions. - Powell says the conversation includes his last collaboration with Jones, a celebration of jazz as an instrument of diplomacy. - King says Powell belongs among the most interesting people he has met across journalism and beyond.

Between the lines: - The episode frames Jones as more than a music executive or producer. It presents him as a connector whose relationships shaped creative, political and business opportunities. - Powell’s memories also underscore how Jones’ influence extended into international moments, including the post-apartheid transition in South Africa. - The focus on jazz diplomacy suggests Jones’ legacy remains relevant to cultural exchange and soft power, not just entertainment history.

What’s next: - “White House Chronicle” will air the episode starting May 22 on select PBS and public, educational and government cable access channels. - The program also airs on SiriusXM Radio’s P.O.T.U.S., Channel 124. - Howard University Television (WHUT), Channel 32 in Washington, D.C., serves as the PBS presenting station. - The show is also available on SiriusXM Radio and on the listed social channels for Llewellyn King.