Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings performed in concert at the Austin360 Amphitheater on May 17, 2016. Suzanne Cordeiro for American-Statesman
Powerful soul singer Sharon Jones has died, according to a statement from her publicist:
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings perform at ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, February 26, 2014. Sharon Jones less than two months after completing her six-month course of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer has returned to the stage. Photo by Rodolfo Gonzalez / American-Statesman
We are deeply saddened to announce that Sharon Jones has passed away after a heroic battle against pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by her loved ones, including the Dap-Kings.
Thank you for your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations:
– James Brown Family Foundation
Additional memorial details will follow soon.
Jones and her band the Dap-Kings played frequently in Austin, including a May opening set for Hall & Oates at the Austin360 Amphitheater.
The documentary “Miss Sharon Jones,” which chronicles her first round of cancer treatment, premiered at South by Southwest in March and is available on streaming services. Here’s our recent review from writer Matt Shiverdecker:
“Miss Sharon Jones!”: The increasingly successful career of soul singer Sharon Jones was put on pause in 2013 after a stage 2 pancreatic cancer diagnosis sidelined the release of a finished album and put the future with her band, the Dap-Kings, in jeopardy. Academy Award-winning documentarian Barbara Kopple (“Harlan County USA”) chronicles this difficult period in Sharon’s life and career with an unflinching eye. Jones is not afraid of being seen as vulnerable and her humanity shines through in every moment. We watch her flinch during a chemo session, but we also get to see her shout with sheer joy when she gets the news that her band has been booked to perform on “Ellen.” If you’re somehow not familiar with the music, this film is going to turn you into a true believer. (Cable and digital VOD)
Read a 2014 interview with Sharon Jones here … We Want Sharon: Jones and the Dap Kings are back on stage after her cancer treatment
