Death comes to thousands of people every day, without any warning, for a variety of reasons. People die in wars as well as in natural disasters. Death happens to everyone, but the death of a personality with fame and achievements always leaves the public in shock. One such personality, Sharon Jones, lead singer of Sharon Jones and Dap Kings, passed her last breath fighting a long battle with cancer in November, 2016. Jones had made a great name in the world of music. Let’s have a look at some of her achievements and relive some memories.
The youngest of the six siblings, Jones, had to struggle at an early age owing to family circumstances. From singing in churches to wedding performances, Jones did it all for her love of music and earning some extra money. She had to face many hurdles to break out in the cut-throat music industry, as they thought she had the unconventional looks not suited for the music industry. However, she proved them wrong with her sheer talent and outsized personality and made a name in the field of music. Sharon Jones was born to Charlie Jones and Ella Mae Price Jones in Augusta, Georgia. During her teens, she would often take part in talent shows in the early 1970s, backed by local funk bands. However, the major break she received was in 1996, ending her long period of struggle, and there was no looking back for her. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, a group formed in 2002, released their first album Dap Dippin’ with Sharon Jones and the Dap-kings, which got them instant fame and popularity. This album was followed by three more albums Naturally, 100 Days, 100 Nights, and I Learned the Hard Way. It would not be wrong to state that they were responsible for bringing back the soul and funk genre of music. Her popular singles include “Damn It’s Hot” (1996), “I Gonna Get Ya!” (1999), “Got to Be the Way It is” (2002), and “Genuine” (2004), among many others.
Apart from live performances in many countries, Jones briefly acted, in the 2007 movie, The Great Debaters, playing the small part of Lia, a juke joint singer. Directed by Barbara Kopple, a documentary titled Miss Sharon Jones! was released in 2016.
On June 3, 2013, it was announced that Sharon Jones, after being diagnosed with bile duct cancer, had undergone surgery. She was later diagnosed with Stage II Pancreatic Cancer and she had more surgery on her liver, and she underwent chemotherapy as well. Although the chemotherapy caused hair loss, Jones refused to wear wigs and continued performing bald during that time. During the screening of Miss Sharon Jones!, she revealed that the cancer had returned and she would be undergoing chemotherapy again. While watching the 2016 presidential elections of the United States, she suffered a stroke and was admitted to the hospital. Her battle with cancer ended on November 18, 2016, in Cooperstown, New York. Her legacy lives on in the hearts of her many adoring admirers.