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Sharon Jones

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Sharon Jones
Sharon Jones, Moers Festival 2007

Sharon Jones is an American soul/funk singer and lead singer of Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, who are widely considered to be at the forefront of a revivalist movement that aims to recapture the feeling of soul and funk music as it was at its height in the late 1960s to mid 1970s. Despite trying to forge a career as a professional singer since an early age, it has only been in her middle age that Jones has experienced breakthrough success.

Biography

Born Sheron Lafaye Jones, on May 4 1956 in Augusta, Georgia, she moved to New York at an early age and lives there now. As a child, she and her brothers would often imitate the singing and dancing of James Brown, who was also from Augusta. A regular gospel singer in church, Jones often entered talent shows backed by local funk bands in the early 1970s. Session work then continued with backing singing, 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 at Rikers Island and as an armored car guard for Wells Fargo Bank, until receiving a mid-life career break in 1996 after she appeared on a session backing soul and deep funk legend Lee Fields.

The session was organised by Philip Lehman and Gabriel Roth, co-owners of the now defunct French record label Pure Records. Jones was the only one of three singers who were called into the session to show. Having completed all the backing parts herself, Roth and Lehman were suitably impressed with her performance and recorded a solo track with Jones entitled "Switchblade". This track, along with another entitled "The Landlord" were included on an album by the Soul Providers called "Soul Tequila". The Soul Providers -- with members of the Brooklyn bands Antibalas and the Mighty Imperials -- would later go on to form the Dap-Kings, Jones' current backing band.[1]

When Lehman and Roth relocated to Brooklyn, New York City, a new label was set up called Desco Records, now also defunct. The Soul Tequila album was re-released as Gimme The Paw which omitted The Landlord but kept Switchblade. Jones however recorded and released three 45 singles for the Desco label, 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 Eddie Bo and Bobby Williams tracks), You Better Think Twice backed by I Got the Feeling (a James Brown cover). The 45s gained some notice amongst 45 soul and funk collectors, particularly because in the early days of Desco Records some collectors may have believed the 45s to be originals from the early seventies as they were never dated. These 45s were also released on a compilation CD, the Desco Funk 45' Collection, alongside various other artists in the Desco stable. The Desco label itself had now established a firm reputation amongst enthusiasts. Desco continued to release 45 singles and also released LPs by Lee Fields, Sugarman 3, The Daktaris and The Mighty Imperials as well as a further compilation of funk 45s. The Mighty Imperials album proved to be the last release on the Desco label and due to a difference of opinions label owners Lehman and Roth parted ways in 2000. Lehman started another independent, Soul Fire Records, now also defunct whilst Gabriel Roth went on to start Daptone Records with saxophonist Neal Sugarman of Sugarman 3.

Launched on the back of the popularity of Desco Records, Daptone Record's first release would be a full length Sharon Jones album. A new band, the Dap-Kings was formed from the ashes of the Soul Providers and the Mighty Imperials. Some of the musicians went on to record for Philip Lehman's Soul Fire label, some formed the afro-beat band the Budos Band. From the original Soul Providers, Roth AKA 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.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings at the Moers Festival, 2007

In 2002 and together as Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings they released an album Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings for which they received immediate attention and acclaim from enthusiasts, DJs and collectors. With two more albums under their belt, Naturally (2005) and 100 Days, 100 Nights (2007) they are seen by many as the spearhead of a revivalist soul and funk movement. They are particularly well-respected amongst their fans and contemporaries for successfully capturing the essence of soul as it was at its height in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Among her influences are James Brown, Otis Redding, Ike & Tina Turner and Marva Whitney.

Jones had a small part in the 2007 film The Great Debaters, starring Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker, as a juke joint singer named "Lila". Her performance of Lucille Bogan's "That's What My Baby Likes" is featured in the film, and Jones' additional covers of 1930s-era songs are included on the film's soundtrack. Her appearance in The Great Debaters forced Jones to turn down a stint as back-up singer for Lou Reed’s Fall 2007 live show built around his Berlin album. [1]

References

  1. ^ a b Schneider,Jason (2007). ""Soul Survivors: How Classic Rhythm & Blues Has Become Vital Once Again"". Exclaim! Magazine. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
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