Ulla Agneta Jones, also known as Ulla Jones and Ulla Andersson, is a former model, actress, singer-songwriter, author, makeup artist, and photographer. She gained recognition in the fashion industry after being discovered by Eileen Ford of Ford Models. Ulla’s modeling career took her to Paris, where she became a prominent figure in high fashion, appearing in renowned magazines such as ‘Harper’s Bazaar’ and ‘Vogue.’ She traveled extensively for fashion shows and shoots across the US, Europe, and Russia. After retiring from modeling, Ulla focused on raising her two children with her former husband, Quincy Jones. In addition to her modeling career, Ulla ventured into acting, starring in Lars Jacob’s production, ‘Wild Side Story.’ She also released a studio album and a non-album single as a singer-songwriter. Ulla’s diverse talents extend to writing, as she authored her autobiography, ‘Red Carpet Blues.’
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Ulla Agneta Jones, Ulla Agneta Andersson
- Age: 77 Years, 77 Year Old Females
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Quincy Jones (m. 1967; div. 1974)
- Children: Martina Jones, Quincy Jones III
- Occupation: Models, Singers
- City: Stockholm, Sweden
Childhood & Early Life
Ulla Agneta Andersson was born on June 18, 1946 in Stockholm, Sweden. Not much is known about her family background, parents, early life and educational qualification.
Career
When Ulla was fifteen years of age, she was spotted by Ford Models’ co-founder, Eileen Ford, in Stockholm. Eileen wasted no time in signing the young talent and sent her to Paris where she underwent training as a model. Ulla then commenced her career in modelling travelling and talking part in different fashion shows around the world.
She travelled to the US, Russia and Europe to shoot for her modelling. She graced the covers of several magazines during the 1960s. She posed for noted photographers of her time, including American commercial photographer Hiro, and also featured in different international magazines, such as ‘Vogue’ and ‘Harper’s Bazaar’. She later retired from Ford Modelling Agency.
She featured in an unknown role in the Gian Luigi Polidoro directed black-and-white Italian film, ‘To Bed or Not to Bed,’ that had Alberto Sordi in starring role. The 1963 film won a ‘Golden Globe’ award and a ‘Golden Bear’ at the ‘Berlin Film Festival.’ In 1973, she featured in the Swedish film ‘Luftburen’ where she played the character of Mrs. Stroll.
She appeared as Betty Sue in Lars Jacob’s first Stockholm production of the parody musical, ‘Wild Side Story,’ in January 1976. Other members of the cast included Christer Lindarw, Agneta Lindén and Roger Jönsson.
She has co-written the song, ‘May The Whisper,’ along with Malou Berg in Greta & Malou’s eponymous album, released in 1977.
Ulla also contributed as a lyricist and provided additional vocals in singles ‘Ditt Horn Är Min Passion (I Love a Rainy Night)’, ‘Tänk Om…’, ‘Mörkblå Är Natten’ and ‘Med Vind Under Vingen (Life Is A Process)’ in 1980 for Maritza Horn’s album, ‘Celluloid.’
Meanwhile, she started to record her first album, ‘No Time No Space No Age No Race That’s Nifty!,’ in Stockholm in January 1979. Produced by Swedish musician and music arranger Lasse Samuelson and Swedish flautist, pianist, music arranger, composer and artist Björn J:son Lindh, the album consists of 12 tracks featuring a mix of different genres of music like country, folk, world and pop.
Eleven of the tracks of ‘No Time No Space No Age No Race That’s Nifty!’ were written and performed by Ulla while the track, ‘Long Legged Thilly,’ was written by Jo-Ellen Lapidus on Ulla and sung by Swedish singer Turid Lundqvist. The album was released through Swedish record label ‘Four Leaf Records’ in 1979 originally as a vinyl LP and was later made available for digital download including through Amazon MP3, Spotify and iTunes. It is the only album spawned by the diva till present.
She came up with her non-album single titled ‘Dirty Angels/Some People Like Blood’ in 1984. The single marks her first and so far only song released through Hawk Records.
She worked as a makeup artist in the Staffan Hildebrand directed Swedish drama film ‘Stockholmsnatt’ (English: ‘The King of Kungsan’ or ‘Stockholm Night’), which released on January 23, 1987 in Sweden. Her son, Quincy Delight Jones III, also referred as QD3, QDIII and Snoopy, starred, narrated and contributed music in the film.
She released her autobiography titled ‘Red Carpet Blues’ through Bra böcker of Malmö in 2007.
Personal Life
Ulla met Quincy Jones in 1966 at a Trans World Airlines (TWA) party thrown in New York in honour of American singer, actor, and producer Frank Sinatra. At that time she was living in the 5th Avenue apartment in Manhattan sublet by American film producer and former studio executive Robert Evans.
Following her courtship with Jones, she relocated to California to live with him and married him in 1967. She has a daughter, Martina Jones, and son, Quincy Jones III, through this marriage. She took retirement from her modelling career to look after her children.
Ulla’s marriage with Jones did not work out after a few years and ended in separation. She returned to Sweden with her children. The divorce of the couple finally happened in 1974 with Ulla receiving a small settlement. Thereafter, she shifted to the suburbs of Stockholm. While Martina became a dancer and model, Quincy Jones III became a music producer, film producer and author.