Jones worked in Paris from 1957-8

Jones began his career in the 1950s, when he worked as a jazz musician and toured with artists including Dizzy Gillespie.

He moved to Paris in 1957 to study composition with piano teacher Nadia Boulange, and also worked with French artists including Charles Aznavour and Michel Legrand.

Back in America, he began arranging, producing and writing, and won his first Grammy in 1963 for his arrangement of the song I Can't Stop Loving You.

He produced Michael Jackson's hit albums Thriller, Off The Wall and Bad, and collected another Grammy in 1990 for his Back On The Block album.

The L�gion d'Honneur is France's highest civil order, and is awarded to people of all backgrounds and nationalities if they have made significant achievements during careers lasting 20 years or more.