Music lovers around the world have lost an amazing talent today with the passing of Sharon Jones. On stage and in song, Sharon Jones personified Soul. Rest in peace Ms. Jones.
The following story about this dynamic and wonderful performer was originally published several years ago in Insomniac Magazine.
Sharon Jones is one of the most inspirational artists on the show circuit. It’s not just her soulful voice, nor is it her hard and heavy dancing on stage, nor her soothing retro sounds that are reminiscent of class acts such as ‘60’s female groups The Shirelles, The Marvelettes, The Dixie Cups, and others, that makes her such a powerful inspiration. Even Jones’ uncanny, pure energy and movements, that seem to be channeled from the late James Brown, don’t make her a rousing figure. The inspiration is her story: A struggling singer who worked at a state prison as a correction’s officer, and although she has always dreamed of singing for a living, the break didn’t come until 2002 when she turned 49 years old. That’s when she recorded her first album with a tiny record upstart out of Brooklyn called Daptone Records.
In the age of “American Idol,” major media entities, and the overall narrowcast view of those who decide on who’s going to be “hot,” it is purely a welcome breath of fresh air to see Sharon perform and thrive in a business that blatantly mandates that only the young, commercially beautiful, and ultra-thin are worthy of being given an opportunity to shine. These are the barriers that would normally keep out a non-traditional, massive talent. However, since her debut, these barriers haven’t affected the rise of Sharon in the slightest. She continues to hit stages globally as if each one is the last performance ever, anywhere.
Sharon works her audiences hard too, and they love it. And, she pushes her band even harder; and, they submit by delivering pure funk and soul music that would make you think the door to the venue was a portal back to a 1964 sweat box party. When Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings perform- the joint is jumping. Their album “100 Days 100 Nights” is crammed with music and emotion that will put you through a bevy of ups and downs, however, the sound is so powerful that regardless of how Sharon’s stories touch you emotionally, you can’t help but to smile when you realize that this is new music. That’s another part of the inspiration; just when you thought record labels, media conglomerates, and American Idol have finally tapped the last nail on the homogenized coffin of American music, here comes Sharon to make it all right; at least while she’s on stage or on your headphones. Knowing that her band, the Dap Kings, has been recruited to play with Amy Winehouse, and that Sharon was recently cast in a movie with Denzel, is promising. Who said that even immense talent wasn’t enough to break someone into the business once they’ve passed a certain age? It might have been something I picked up from watching a network television talent show series or from listening to commercial radio. Luckily, we have YouTube, which is where I first saw Sharon performing. That’s what sparked an interest, not commercial radio rotation. From there, I got the album. Then, that’s when I knew I had to see her live. When I caught the show, she didn’t disappoint. More importantly, she reminded me why I love music. A fondness that, with few exceptions, had become a waning memory. Today, I’m motivated to find more acts with talent. Whether they’re 14 or 72, if the music touches me, that’s all that counts- that’s inspiration. -Israel Vasquetelle
