Legendary composer and performer Quincy Jones, whose work has crossed multiple genres, races and media, is behind an initiative to provide schools around the country free access to Qwest TV’s educational platforms.

“Kids in general today, especially in America, have no idea of the history of the music they are listening to,” Jones, 87, said in a statement. “There is a direct line from jazz and the blues, be-bop to doo-wop to hip-hop, and everything in between that was born of them, from country and rock ‘n’ roll to pop. That is the beauty of Qwest TV. It is a platform where you can experience the origins of jazz, the blues and gospel music, and see and hear how it evolved into and influenced all types of music genres around the world.”

Jones, who acknowledges that the ability of music helps unite a country that has been divided by racism, added that the globalizing effect of social media expands its potential.