Soul Singer Sharon Jones Dead at 60

  /  11.19.2016

Grammy-nominated soul and funk singer Sharon Jones, beloved for her work with Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, passed away on Friday (Nov. 18) after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 60.

“We are deeply saddened to announce that Sharon Jones has passed away after a heroic battle against pancreatic cancer,” her rep said in a statement. “She was surrounded by her loved ones, including the Dap-Kings.”

Jones earned her first Grammy nomination in 2013 when Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ album Give the People What They Want was up for Best R&B Album. That same year, she was diagnosed with cancer. “I just started crying,” Jones told Rolling Stone in July. “All kinds of thoughts went through my head because I figured that I was going to die.”

Instead, Jones fought cancer for years, vowing not to let it control her life. “I have cancer; cancer don’t have me,” she explained. “I’m gonna keep on going. I’m gonna take this medicine, and it’ll be alright.”

Jones’ work has impacted art by others, as well. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings’ “The Dap Dip,” for instance, was sampled on Rhymefest and Kanye West’s “Brand New” and on an Earl Sweatshirt song of the same name.

Fans and fellow stars are mourning as news of Jones’ passing has surfaced. “So sad to hear about the passing of my friend and the soulful, dynamic singer I loved performing with, Sharon Jones,” tweeted John Legend.

“My deepest condolences 2 the family of @sharonjones,” added Chaka Khan. “She was the real deal in this industry. 2016 you’ve been awful.”

This wasn’t exclusive to a genre as artists and celebrities from various walks mourned the singer, including actress Whoopi Goldberg, rappers/producers El-P and Evidence, R&B star Keith Sweat, producer Mark Ronson, and Paramore’s Hayley Williams.

https://twitter.com/yelyahwilliams/status/799817683097321472

TRENDING

Metro Boomin Addresses Speculation About Drake And Future's Alleged Beef: "Stop Making Stuff Up"

Metro Boomin told fans to “stop making stuff up for engagement” without clarifying whether he ...
03.25.2024

New Photos Of Drake Go Viral Following Kendrick Lamar's Verse On "Like That"

Social media fans claim that Drake looks stressed following the release of Kendrick Lamar’s new ...
03.23.2024

Cardi B Threatens To Sue LAPD After They Allegedly Made Her Get “Butt-Naked” During Investigation

“I was freaking out,” Cardi B detailed the incident. “They had me outside for like ...
03.26.2024

Twitter Users Hilariously React To Tyla Rejecting Kai Cenat During Livestream: "We're Friends"

After Kai Cenat asked the “Water” singer on a date, she lightheartedly responded, “Are you ...
03.25.2024
View More

Sponsored Stories