Sharon Lafaye Jones (May 4, 1956 – November 18, 2016) was an American

soul The soul is the purported Mind–body dualism, immaterial aspect or essence of a Outline of life forms, living being. It is typically believed to be Immortality, immortal and to exist apart from the material world. The three main theories that ...

and

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

singer. She was the lead singer of

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings were an American funk and soul music, soul band signed to Daptone Records. They were part of a Retro-soul, revival movement of mid-1960s to mid-1970s style funk and soul music. They released their debut album Dap D ...

, a soul and funk band based in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, New York. Jones experienced breakthrough success relatively late in life, releasing her first record when she was 40 years old. In 2014, Jones was nominated for her first

Grammy The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...

, in the category Best R&B Album, for '' Give the People What They Want.''

Early life

Jones was born in

Augusta, Georgia Augusta is a city on the central eastern border of the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. The city lies directly across the Savannah River from North Augusta, South Carolina at the head of its navigable portion. Augusta, the third mos ...

, the daughter of Ella Mae Price Jones and Charlie Jones, living in adjacent

North Augusta, South Carolina North Augusta is a city in Aiken and Edgefield counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina, on the north bank of the Savannah River. It lies directly across the river, and state border, from Augusta, Georgia. The population was 24,379 at the ...

. Jones was the youngest of six children; her siblings are Dora, Charles, Ike, Willa and Henry. Jones's mother raised her deceased sister's four children as well as her own. She moved the family to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

when Sharon was a young child. As children, she and her brothers would often imitate the singing and dancing of

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, musician, and record producer. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th-century music, he is referred to by Honorific nick ...

. Her mother happened to know Brown, who was also from Augusta. Jones grew up in the

Bedford Stuyvesant Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district. Bedford was founded at a ford on the ...

neighborhood of

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

. In 1975, she graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Brooklyn. She attended

Brooklyn College Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn in New York City, United States. It is part of the City University of New York system and enrolls nearly 14,000 students on a campus in the Midwood and Flatbush sections of Brooklyn as of fall ...

Career

Early career

A regular

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christianity, Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the second century Anno domino, AD the term (, from which the English word originated as a calque) came to be used also for the books in which the message w ...

singer in church, during the early 1970s Jones often entered

talent show A talent show or talent contest is an event in which participants perform the arts of singing, dancing, lip-syncing, acting, martial arts, playing an instrument, poetry, comedy or other activities to showcase skills. Many talent shows are p ...

s backed by local funk bands. Session work then continued with backing vocals, often credited to Lafaye Jones, but in the absence of any recording contract as a solo singer, she spent many years working as a

corrections officer A prison officer (PO) or corrections officer (CO), also known as a correctional law enforcement officer or less formally as a prison guard, is a uniformed law enforcement official responsible for the custody, supervision, safety, and regulation ...

Rikers Island Rikers Island is a prison island in the East River in the Bronx, New York (state), New York, United States, that contains New York City's largest jail. Named after Abraham Rycken, who took possession of the island in 1664, the island was orig ...

and as an armored car guard for

Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with a significant global presence. The company operates in 35 countries and serves over 70 million customers worldwide. It is a systemically important fi ...

, until receiving a mid-life career break in 1996 after she appeared on a session backing the soul and deep funk legend Lee Fields. The session was organized by Gabriel Roth and Philippe Lehman, then the owner of the now-defunct French record label Pure Records. Jones was the only one of three singers called to the session to show up. Having completed all the backing parts herself, Roth and Lehman were suitably impressed with her performance and recorded "Switchblade", a solo track with Jones. This track and "The Landlord" were included on the Soul Providers' album ''Soul Tequila'', released by Lehman on Pure circa 1996. The Soul Providers—with members of the Brooklyn bands Antibalas and the Mighty Imperials—later formed the Dap-Kings, who became Jones's regular backing band. Lehman and Roth started a new label based in Brooklyn, Desco Records, now also defunct. ''Soul Tequila'' was re-released as ''Gimme the Paw'', which omitted "The Landlord" but kept "Switchblade". Jones recorded and released three 45-rpm singles for Desco: "Damn It's Hot" part 1 backed by part 2, "Bump N Touch" part 1 backed by "Hook and Sling Meets the Funky Superfly" (a medley cover of tracks by Eddie Bo and Bobby Williams), and "You Better Think Twice" backed by "I Got the Feeling" (a James Brown cover). The singles gained some notice among 45 soul and funk collectors, particularly because in the early days of Desco Records some collectors may have believed them to be originals from the early seventies, as they were not dated. These singles were also released on a compilation CD, the Desco Funk 45' Collection, with tracks by various other artists in the Desco stable. Desco had established a firm reputation among enthusiasts. Desco continued to release 45-rpm singles and also released LPs by Lee Fields, the Sugarman 3, the Daktaris and the Mighty Imperials as well as a further compilation of funk 45s. The Mighty Imperials album was the last release on the Desco label, and Lehman and Roth parted ways in 2000. Lehman started another independent label, Soul Fire Records, now also defunct. Roth went on to start

Daptone Records Daptone Records is a funk and soul independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York. Best known as the home of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley, the label boasts a roster which includes Menahan Street Band, The Budos Ban ...

with the saxophonist Neal Sugarman of Sugarman 3.

Daptone Records

Launched on the back of the popularity of Desco Records, Daptone Records' first release was a full-length album by Sharon Jones. A new band, the Dap-Kings, was formed from the former members of the Soul Providers and the Mighty Imperials. Some of the musicians went on to record for Lehman's Soul Fire label, while some formed the Budos Band, an Afro-beat band. From the original Soul Providers, Roth (also known as Bosco Mann) on bass, guitarist and emcee Binky Griptite, percussionist Fernando Velez, trumpet player Anda Szilagyi and organist Earl Maxton were joined by original Mighty Imperials saxophonist Leon Michels and drummer Homer Steinweiss, plus Neal Sugarman from Sugarman 3, to form The Dap-Kings. SharonJonesTreefort2013

In 2002, under the name Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, the group released the album '' Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings'', for which they received immediate attention and acclaim from enthusiasts, DJs and collectors. With three more albums under their belt, '' Naturally'' (2005), '' 100 Days, 100 Nights'' (2007) and '' I Learned the Hard Way'' (2010) they are seen by many as the spearhead of a revival of

and

. In 2015, during an interview with ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'' about her Grammy nomination, Jones discussed her commitment to the Daptone Label, an independent company. She cited artistic freedom and the commitment to the band.

Film

Jones had a small part in the 2007 film ''

The Great Debaters ''The Great Debaters'' is a 2007 American historical drama film directed by Denzel Washington from a screenplay by Robert Eisele and based on a 1997 article for '' American Legacy'' by Tony Scherman. The film follows the trials and tribulations o ...

'', starring

Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington Jr. (born December 28, 1954) is an American actor, producer, and director. Known for his dramatic roles Denzel Washington on screen and stage, on stage and screen, Washington has received List of awards and nominations ...

and

Forest Whitaker Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor, filmmaker, and activist. His accolades include an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Best Actor Award at the ...

, in which she played Lila, a

juke joint Juke joint (also jukejoint, jook house, jook, or juke) is the African-American vernacular term for an informal establishment featuring music, dancing, gambling, and drinking, primarily operated by African Americans in the southeastern United St ...

singer. Her performance of Lucille Bogan's "That's What My Baby Likes" is featured in the film, and additional covers by Jones of songs from the 1930s are included on the film's soundtrack. In 2015, a documentary titled '' Miss Sharon Jones!'', directed by

Barbara Kopple Barbara Kopple (born July 30, 1946) is an American film director known primarily for her documentary work. She is credited with pioneering a renaissance of cinema vérité, and bringing the historic French style to a modern American audience. S ...

, debuted at the

Toronto International Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the most prestigious and largest publicly attended film festivals in the world. Founded in 1976, the festival takes place every year in early September. The organi ...

Collaborations

* 2007: She performed on tour with

Lou Reed Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942October 27, 2013) was an American musician and songwriter. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Althoug ...

, although her appearance in ''The Great Debaters'' caused Jones to turn down a stint as back-up singer for Reed's fall 2007 live show built around his ''

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

'' album. She performed one song on the

David Byrne David Byrne (; born May 14, 1952) is an American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was a founding member, principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the American New wave music, new wave band Talking Heads. Byrne has ...

–

Fatboy Slim Norman Quentin Cook (born Quentin Leo Cook, 31 July 1963), also known as Fatboy Slim, is an English musician and DJ who helped popularise the big beat genre in the 1990s. His music makes extensive use of Sampling (music), samples from eclectic ...

collaboration, ''

Here Lies Love ''Here Lies Love'' is a concept album and rock musical made in collaboration between David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, about the life of the former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos along with the woman who raised her—Estrella Cumpas� ...

''. * 2009: Jones sang backup for

Phish Phish is an American rock band formed in Burlington, Vermont, in 1983. The band consists of guitarist Trey Anastasio, bassist Mike Gordon, drummer Jon Fishman, and keyboardist Page McConnell, all of whom perform vocals, with Anastasio being the ...

during their 2009 Halloween performance of the Rolling Stones' '' Exile on Main St.'', at Festival 8, in

Indio, California Indio (Spanish language, Spanish for "Indian") is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley of Southern California's Colorado Desert region. Indio is approximately east of Los Angeles, east of Palm Springs, ...

. * 2009: Jones performed a duet of " Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" with

Michael Bublé Michael Steven Bublé ( ; born September 9, 1975) is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Regarded as a pop icon, he is often credited for helping to renew public interest and appreciation for traditional pop standards and the Great American ...

on his 2009 album '' Crazy Love''. * 2013: Jones & The Dap-Kings performed on a float during the 87th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. * 2015: Jones performed " Wade in the Water" on the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

television program ''Reginald D Hunter's Songs of the South'', presented by

Reginald D. Hunter Reginald Darnell Hunter (born March 26, 1969) is an American stand-up comedy, stand-up comedian based in the United Kingdom. Early life Reginald Darnell Hunter was born on March 26, 1969, in Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, the youngest of nine.Ma ...

. * 2016: Jones performed " 100 Days, 100 Nights" in the closing scenes of the Marvel Netflix TV series ''

Luke Cage Lucas "Luke" Cage, born Carl Lucas and also known as Power Man, is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Archie Goodwin, George Tuska, Roy Thomas, and John Romita Sr. in 1972, he was the first Af ...

''. Jones and her band were shown performing live in a Harlem night club central to one of the main story arcs of the series.

Influences

Jones has sometimes been called, especially early in her late renaissance of a career, the Female James Brown. Amongst Jones' influences were

Sam Cooke Samuel Cooke (; January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964) was an American singer and songwriter. Considered one of the most influential soul music, soul artists of all time, Cooke is commonly referred to as the "King of Soul" for his distin ...

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April25, 1917June15, 1996) was an American singer, songwriter and composer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phra ...

Thom Bell Thomas Randolph Bell (January 26, 1943 – December 22, 2022) was an American record producer, arranger, and songwriter known as one of the creators of Philadelphia soul in the 1970s. Hailed as one of the most prolific R&B songwriters and prod ...

Otis Redding Otis Ray Redding Jr. (September 9, 1941 – December 10, 1967) was an American singer and songwriter. He is regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of American popular music and a seminal artist in soul music and rhythm and blues. ...

Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina Turner was an American musical duo consisting of husband-and-wife Ike Turner and Tina Turner. From 1960 to 1976, they performed live as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, supported by the Kings of Rhythm and backing vocalists, the Ikettes. ...

, Marva Whitney and everyone from

Motown Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...

. In addition, Jones also cited more recently known artists, such as

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

Erykah Badu Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by rhythm and blues, R&B, Soul music, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...

and

Beyoncé Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter ( ; born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. With a career spanning over three decades, she has established herself as one of the most Cultural impact of Beyoncé, ...

Personal life

For several years she lived with her mother in the Far Rockaway section of

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

Health and death

It was announced on June 3, 2013, that Jones had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer and had undergone surgery, which forced her to postpone the release of the group's fifth album, ''Give the People What They Want''. The diagnosis was later changed to stage II

pancreatic cancer Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of ...

, for which Jones had surgery on her liver and underwent chemotherapy. The chemotherapy caused hair loss, and for a time she performed bald, refusing to wear wigs. During the screening of her documentary at the 2015

, Jones revealed that her cancer had returned, and that she would be undergoing chemotherapy again. She suffered a stroke while watching the

2016 United States presidential election United States presidential election, Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 8, 2016. The Republican Party (United States), Republican ticket of businessman Donald Trump and Indiana Governor, Indiana governor Mike P ...

results and another the following day. Jones remained alert and lucid during the initial period of her hospital stay, claiming light-heartedly that the news of

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

's victory was responsible for her stroke. Jones died on November 18, 2016, in

Cooperstown, New York Cooperstown is a village in and the county seat of Otsego County, New York, United States. Most of the village lies within the town of Otsego, but some of the eastern part is in the town of Middlefield. Located at the foot of Otsego Lake in ...

, aged 60. Her respective memorial services were held at Brown Memorial Baptist Church in Clinton Hill, New York on December 14, 2016 and Imperial Theatre in Augusta, Georgia three days later.https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/sharon-jones/sharon-jones-memorials-announced

Discography

With the Dap-Kings

* '' Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings'' (2002) * '' Naturally'' (2005) * '' 100 Days, 100 Nights'' (2007) * '' I Learned the Hard Way'' (2010) * '' Soul Time!'' (compilation) (2011) * '' Give the People What They Want'' (2014) * ''It's a Holiday Soul Party'' (2015) * '' Soul of a Woman'' (2017)

As solo artist

Singles * "Damn It's Hot" ( Desco, 1996) * "Bump N Touch Part 1" / "Hook N Sling Meets The Funky Superfly" (Desco, 1997) * "You Better Think Twice" / "I Got The Feeling" (Desco, 1998) As featured artist * The Soul Providers featuring Lee Fields – "The Landlord" from ''Gimme The Paw ...And Eleven Other Funky Favorites'' (1997); vocals *

Norma Jean Bell Peacefrog Records is a British independent record label based in London, England. The label produces releases in many different styles of electronic music, as well as branching out into folk and indie artists such as José González, Nouvell ...

– "Yes I Am (I'm Gonna Get You)" from Come Into My Room (2001) * Greyboy – "Got To Be A Love," "Gotta' Stand For Something" & " Everyday Problem" from ''Soul Mosaic'' (Ubiquity, 2004) *Los Walkysons – "Do The Crank / I Idolize You" feat. Sharon Jones (2006) *

They Might Be Giants They Might Be Giants, often abbreviated as TMBG, is an American alternative rock and Children's music, children's band formed in 1982 by John Flansburgh and John Linnell. During TMBG's early years, Flansburgh and Linnell frequently performed as ...

– "Withered Hope" from '' The Else'' (2007) * Wax Tailor – "The Way We Lived" feat. Sharon Jones from '' Hope & Sorrow'' (Decon, 2007) * Greyboy – "Got To Be A Love" feat. Sharon Jones from ''15 Years Of West Coast Cool'' (2008) *

Lucky Peterson Judge Kenneth "Lucky" Peterson (December 13, 1964 – May 17, 2020) was an American musician who played contemporary Blues music, blues, fusing soul music, soul, Rhythm and blues, R&B, gospel music, gospel and rock and roll. He was a vocalist, g ...

– "Will The Circle Be Unbroken?" from Organ Soul Sessions: The Music Is The Magic (Universal Jazz France, 2009) *

– "Dancing Together" from ''

'' (2010) * Booker T. Jones – "Representing Memphis" feat.

Matt Berninger Matthew Donald Berninger (, born February 13, 1971) is an American singer, primarily known as the frontman and lyricist of indie rock band The National. In 2014, he also formed the EL VY project with Brent Knopf of Ramona Falls and Menomena. ...

& Sharon Jones from '' The Road From Memphis'' (ANTI, 2011) *

Steve Cropper Steven Lee Cropper (born October 21, 1941), sometimes known as "The Colonel", is an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. He was the guitarist of the Stax Records house band, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, which backed artists such as ...

– "Come On & Save Me" and "Messin' Up" feat. Sharon Jones from ''Dedicated: A Salute To The 5 Royales'' (429 Records, 2011) * Joe Jackson – "I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues / Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me" from ''The Duke'' (Ear Music, 2012) *E.L. Fields Gospel Wonders – "Heaven Bound" (Daptone, 2017) Other credits * Gangsters – ''Heat I'' (1981); backing vocals * Ivy – ''Ivy II'' (1986); vocals * Lee Fields – "Let Man Do What He Wana Do" / "Steamtrain" (Desco, 1996); backing vocals * TriSpirit – "Rejoice" feat. Tonni Smith (2003); backing vocals * New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble – ''Skaleidoscope'' (2005); vocals *

Rufus Wainwright Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright (born July 22, 1973) is a Canadian and American singer, songwriter, and composer. He has recorded eleven studio albums and numerous tracks on compilations and film soundtracks. He has also written two classical opera ...

– "Release The Stars" from '' Release The Stars'' ( Geffen, 2007); backing vocals *

– '' Berlin: Live At St. Ann's Warehouse'' (2008); backing vocals * Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens – ''What Have You Done, My Brother?'' (

Daptone Daptone Records is a funk and soul independent record label based in Brooklyn, New York. Best known as the home of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings and Charles Bradley, the label boasts a roster which includes Menahan Street Band, The Budos Band ...

, 2009); backing vocals *

The Gaslight Anthem The Gaslight Anthem is an American rock band from New Brunswick, New Jersey, formed in 2006. The band consists of Brian Fallon (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano), Alex Rosamilia (lead guitar, backing vocals), Alex Levine (bass guitar, backing ...

– "Stray Paper" from ''Get Hurt (album), Get Hurt'' (2014); backing vocals

References

External links

* * * * Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Live at Amoeba: Amoeba Records, Hollywood.
December 3, 2007. * Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
NPR Showcase @ Stubb's
(audio of concert) / KEXP @ SXSW.
I'll Still Be True
"
Road of Broken Hearted Men
"
I'm Not Gonna to Cry
(video of songs). March 17, 2010. * Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Austin City Limits.
June 18, 2011. {{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Sharon 1956 births 2016 deaths American funk singers American prison officers American rhythm and blues singers 20th-century African-American women singers Brooklyn College alumni Musicians from Augusta, Georgia Singers from Brooklyn American neo soul singers Singers from South Carolina Desco Records artists Daptone Records artists Deaths from pancreatic cancer in New York (state) Singers from Georgia (U.S. state) 20th-century American singers 20th-century American women singers 21st-century American women singers Thomas Jefferson High School (Brooklyn) alumni People from North Augusta, South Carolina Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings members 21st-century American singers 21st-century African-American women singers