Sharon Jones facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sharon Jones
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Jones performing at Pori Jazz in 2010
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Sharon Lafaye Jones |
| Also known as | Lafaye Jones |
| Born | May 4, 1956 Augusta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Origin | New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 18, 2016 (aged 60) Cooperstown, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1996–2016 |
| Labels | Daptone |
Sharon Lafaye Jones (born May 4, 1956 – died November 18, 2016) was an American singer known for her powerful soul and funk music. She was the lead singer of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, a popular soul and funk band from Brooklyn, New York.
Sharon Jones became famous later in life, releasing her first record when she was 40 years old. In 2014, she was nominated for her first Grammy for her album Give the People What They Want.
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Early life
Sharon Jones was born in Augusta, Georgia. Her family later moved to New York City when she was a young child. Growing up, Sharon and her brothers loved to copy the singing and dancing of the famous artist James Brown. Interestingly, her mother knew James Brown, who was also from Augusta.
Jones grew up in the Bedford Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1975 and later attended Brooklyn College.
Career
Starting her music journey
Sharon Jones was a regular gospel singer in church. In the early 1970s, she often joined talent shows with local funk bands. She also sang backing vocals for other artists. However, she didn't get a solo recording contract for many years. During this time, she worked as a corrections officer at Rikers Island prison and as an armored car guard for Wells Fargo.
Her big break came in 1996. She was asked to sing backing vocals for soul and deep funk artist Lee Fields. The people organizing the session, Gabriel Roth and Philippe Lehman, were very impressed with her voice. They recorded a solo song with her called "Switchblade." This song and another, "The Landlord," were part of an album released by Lehman's record label.
The musicians who played with her later formed a band called the Dap-Kings. They became Sharon Jones's regular backing band. Roth and Lehman then started a new record label in Brooklyn called Desco Records. Sharon Jones released several songs on Desco, which became popular with collectors who loved old soul and funk music.
Daptone Records and success
After Desco Records, Gabriel Roth started a new label called Daptone Records with saxophonist Neal Sugarman. The very first album released by Daptone Records was by Sharon Jones. A new band, The Dap-Kings, was formed from members of previous bands.
In 2002, the group, now known as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, released their first album, Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. This album quickly gained attention and praise from music fans. They released three more successful albums: Naturally (2005), 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007), and I Learned the Hard Way (2010). Many people see them as leaders in bringing back soul and funk music.
In 2015, Sharon Jones spoke to Billboard magazine about why she stayed with Daptone Records, which was an independent company. She said she liked the artistic freedom and how committed the band was.
Sharon Jones in films
Sharon Jones also appeared in movies. In the 2007 film The Great Debaters, which starred Denzel Washington, she played a singer named Lila. Her performance of "That's What My Baby Likes" was featured in the movie. She also sang other songs from the 1930s for the film's soundtrack.
In 2015, a documentary film about her life, called Miss Sharon Jones!, was shown for the first time at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Working with other artists
Sharon Jones collaborated with many other musicians:
- In 2007, she toured with Lou Reed.
- In 2009, she sang backup for the band Phish during their Halloween show.
- Also in 2009, she sang a duet called "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" with Michael Bublé on his album Crazy Love.
- In 2013, Jones & The Dap-Kings performed on a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
- In 2016, Jones performed her song "100 Days, 100 Nights" in the Marvel Netflix TV series Luke Cage. Her band was shown performing live in a Harlem night club in the show.
Musical influences
Sharon Jones was sometimes called the "Female James Brown" because of her powerful singing style.
She was influenced by many great artists like James Brown, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Otis Redding, and Ike & Tina Turner. She also admired more recent artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Erykah Badu, and Beyoncé.
Personal life
For several years, Sharon Jones lived with her mother in the Far Rockaway area of Queens, New York.
Health and passing
In June 2013, it was announced that Sharon Jones had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer. She had surgery, which caused her to delay the release of her band's fifth album. The diagnosis was later changed to stage II pancreatic cancer. She had more surgery and underwent chemotherapy. The chemotherapy caused her hair to fall out, and she sometimes performed without a wig.
In 2015, during the screening of her documentary, Jones shared that her cancer had returned, and she would need more chemotherapy. She sadly passed away on November 18, 2016, in Cooperstown, New York, at the age of 60.
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)
See also
In Spanish: Sharon Jones para niños
