Sharon Jones: The Soul and Funk Powerhouse

Sharon Jones was an American soul and funk singer whose powerful voice and electrifying stage presence led a revival of classic 1960s and 1970s sounds. Hailing from Augusta, Georgia, she achieved critical and commercial success with her band The Dap-Kings, with their 2014 album Give the People What They Want debuting at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Early career

Born in 1956, Sharon Jones spent years singing in wedding bands and working as a corrections officer at Rikers Island before her musical break. Her professional recording career began in the mid-1990s with backing vocals for the deep funk label Desco Records, where she met future collaborators like bassist and producer Bosco Mann.

When Desco folded, Jones and Mann formed The Dap-Kings and launched the independent label Daptone Records in 2001. Their early 45rpm singles and 2002 debut album Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings were instant hits on the underground funk scene, establishing their raw, analog sound.

Breakthrough

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings' breakthrough to a wider audience accelerated in 2007. Their album 100 Days, 100 Nights received widespread acclaim, while the band's reputation grew as their signature horn section was featured on Amy Winehouse's multi-platinum album Back to Black.

This exposure propelled their 2010 album I Learned the Hard Way to number 15 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums chart. Their energetic live shows became legendary, selling out major venues worldwide and cementing their status as leaders of the soul revival movement.

Key tracks

100 Days, 100 Nights — This timeless title track became the band's signature song, perfectly encapsulating their vintage Stax Records-inspired sound.

This Land Is Your Land — Their fiery 2005 cover of the Woody Guthrie folk standard transformed it into a powerful statement of funky, political soul.

Retreat! — Featured in the 2012 film Seven Psychopaths, this explosive track showcases Jones's commanding vocal power and the band's tight, explosive arrangements.

Stranger to My Happiness — A joyous and resilient anthem from her 2014 album that became a fan favorite and a staple of her triumphant live performances.

I'm Still Here — The poignant closing track from her final album, 2017's Soul of a Woman, serves as a powerful and moving testament to her enduring spirit.

Jones's career was marked by incredible perseverance, including a public and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer diagnosed in 2013. She continued to record and perform with fierce energy, releasing the Grammy-nominated Give the People What They Want in 2014. Her final studio album, Soul of a Woman, was released posthumously in 2017 and earned a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Fans of Sharon Jones's authentic soul and funk sound should also explore the work of similar artists like Charles Bradley, another Daptone Records artist known for his raw, emotional delivery. The deep gospel-infused soul of Lee Fields shares a similar commitment to classic rhythm and blues intensity. For the powerful, horn-driven sound, check out The Buddha Connections, a modern ensemble keeping the funk alive. The energetic live performances of Durand Jones & The Indications also carry on the tradition of dynamic soul music.

The music of Sharon Jones maintains a strong rotation on specialty radio formats, including classic soul and funk FM stations, independent music radio stations, and dedicated online radio streams that celebrate timeless rhythm and blues. Her tracks are frequently featured in blocks highlighting the best of the 21st-century soul revival.

Listeners can discover the powerful legacy