Oprah Winfrey mourns Quincy Jones as 'first person I ever loved unconditionally'

Oprah Winfrey mourns the death of Quincy Jones, whom she “loved unconditionally.”

“My beloved Q. The world's beloved Q,” Winfrey, 70, began a touching Instagram tribute to Jones, who died on Sunday, November 3, at the age of 91.

The star shared a throwback photo of the two walking outside with their arms wrapped around each other, noting that it was Jones who “discovered” her for her breakthrough role in the 1985 film The color purple. “My life forever changed for the better after I met him,” she wrote.

“I had never, and have never since, experienced anyone whose heart was so full of love,” Winfrey's caption continued. “He walked around with an open heart and treated everyone as if they were the most important people he had ever met. He was the light. No shadows.”

She called the Grammy-winning legend “love lived out loud in human form” and added that he was “the first person I ever loved unconditionally.” So we all signed our notes to each other with “Unconditionally… “signed.”

The “favorite photo” of the smiling duo, Winfrey explained, was taken in 2001 “at his home in Bel Air to interview him about his prolific career, the family that completed him, and the life that lay ahead of him.”

She concluded the heartfelt post by saying, “He was the most powerful of souls. His life enriched mine and every life he touched. This will be his global legacy. The greatest, most fulfilling, most loving life ever. One of one!”

Never miss a story again — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

To The Oprah Winfrey Show and in interviews with Jones, a producer and composer of Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of Alice Walker's novel The color purpleconfirmed that he pursued the casting of Winfrey after catching a glimpse of her when she was a news anchor on Chicago television. A fan of the novel, Winfrey received an Oscar nomination for her first film appearance as Sofia.

Other high-profile tributes following Jones' death included him The color purple Star Whoopi Goldberg. “I was lucky to have him in my life all these years,” the 68-year-old actress wrote. “My heart breaks for his friends and extended family who loved and adored him…my condolences.”

To The view On Monday, November 4, Goldberg became emotional as she brought up the loss of her friend. “I can’t even explain what’s going on in my head right now,” she said on the live talk show. “I didn't have a better friend – he never left, when other people streamed away, Q stayed and he always told me to stand firm,” she continued. “I do and always will.”

For The color purpleJones received three of his seven Oscar nominations: for Best Picture, Best Original Song and Best Original Score. The winner of the Academy's Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1995 will receive another honorary Oscar at the upcoming Governors Awards.