The Blues Room #564
Wednesday 23 November 2016
9pm-10pm NZ time, FreeFM89.0
LIVE stream: http://tunein.com/radio/The-Blues-Room-p446677/
Sharon Lafaye Jones (May 4, 1956 – November 18, 2016) was an American soul and funk singer. She was the lead singer of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, a soul and funk band based in Brooklyn, New York. Jones experienced breakthrough success relatively late in life, releasing her first record when she was 40 years old. In 2014, Jones was nominated for her first Grammy, in the category Best R&B Album, for Give the People What They Want. Among Jones' influences are James Brown, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Thom Bell, Otis Redding, Ike & Tina Turner, Marva Whitney and everyone from Motown. In addition, Jones also cites more recently known artists, such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Erykah Badu and Beyoncé. It was announced on June 3, 2013, that Jones had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer and underwent surgery, which forced her to postpone the release of the group's fifth album, Give the People What They Want. The diagnosis was later changed to stage II pancreatic cancer, for which Jones had surgery on her liver and underwent chemotherapy. The chemotherapy caused hair loss, and for a time she performed bald, refusing to wear wigs.
During the screening of her documentary at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival, Jones revealed that her cancer had returned, and that she would be undergoing chemotherapy again. She suffered a stroke whilst watching the 2016 United States presidential election results, blaming Donald Trump, and suffered another stroke the day after the election.
Jones suffered a stroke on election night 2016 and after a second stroke days later died on November 18, 2016 in Cooperstown, New York, aged 60. According to bandmate Gabriel Roth, "She told the people that were [at the hospital] that Trump gave her the stroke. ... She was blaming Trump for the whole thing."
Some artists shine brighter than their contempories. Sharon Jones was one of those artists. This is a tribute to one of the finest soul-sisters this side of originators. We miss you already Sharon. Thank you for sharing your soul with us.
100 Days, 100 Nights
People Don't Get What They Deserve
Slow Down, Love
Natural Born Lover
Every Beat Of My Heart
Road Of Broken Hearted Men
These Tears
Stranger To My Happiness
Silent Night
8 Days Of Hanukkah
Big Bulbs
I'm Still Here
