We have lost another legend this year—singer Sharon Jones lead singer of the group The Dap-Kings, passed away Friday. She was only 60-years-old. According to NPR, Jones had been fighting pancreatic cancer since 2013 and she reently took a break from touring to undergo extensive surgery and chemotherapy. Apparently, her cancer had previously went into remission and came back this year. Jones’ struggle to return to the stage after being diagnosed was the subject of the 2016 documentary “Miss Sharon Jones.”
The Brooklyn native started her singing career later in life.
Variety wrote that Jones was a corrections officer at Rikers Island and an armored car guard for Wells Fargo before she started to sing professionally at the age of 40. Jones was also known for her funk-infused soul sound and was nominated for a Grammy in 2014 for the album “Give the People What They Want,” CNN reported. She was also often referred to as “the female James Brown.”
