The music industry has lost yet another pivotal figure. Sharon Jones, influential soul and funk singer for the Dap-Kings, passed away on Friday (Nov. 18) after a battle with pancreatic cancer, Rolling Stone reports.
In a statement issued by Jones’ representative, “she was surrounded by her loved ones, including the Dap-Kings” in a Cooperstown, New York hospital. The Augusta, Ga., native was diagnosed in 2013 with stage two pancreatic cancer. After having her gallbladder removed and going into remission, nine months later she revealed during a screening of her documentary, Miss Sharon Jones! that she was preparing to tackle stage four pancreatic cancer.
Those that Jones influenced voiced their condolences on social media, including Questlove, Whoopi Goldberg, and Leon Bridges.
We are deeply saddened to announce Sharon Jones passed away today. More details at https://t.co/D4nHMbOIge pic.twitter.com/pWmP9IDL2m
— The Dap-Kings (@The_DapKings) November 19, 2016
Rest In Peace to the beautiful black queen Sharon Jones pic.twitter.com/SUftVhDSYt
— Leon Bridges (@leonbridges) November 19, 2016
#RIPSharonJones ?💜? xo
— Melanie Fiona ? (@MelanieFiona) November 19, 2016
The fabulous Sharon Jones has passed tonight she & her band The DapKings made great music together & she sang her butt off. Condolences RIP
— Whoopi Goldberg (@WhoopiGoldberg) November 19, 2016
Thank You Sharon. Thank You. #2016
A photo posted by Questlove Gomez (@questlove) on
#RIPSharonJones – You are incredible and mighty. Condolences to your family.
— Nile Rodgers (@nilerodgers) November 19, 2016
Sharon Jones had one of the most magnificent, gut-wrenching voices of anyone in recent times. She’ll be so missed. Too sad x
— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) November 19, 2016
So sad to hear about the passing of my friend and the soulful, dynamic singer I loved performing with, Sharon Jones
— John Legend (@johnlegend) November 19, 2016
Jones and the Dap-Kings cemented seven studio albums, their most recent being It’s a Holiday Soul Party, which debuted in 2015. In 2012, both good and bad news arrived. The band received their first Grammy Award nomination within the Best R&B Album category for Give the People What They Want. But after an immediate hospital visit, the success was met with news that Jones had cancer.
“All kinds of thoughts went through my head because I figured that I was going to die,” she told RS. But she turned this upset into a positive and looked at her stage presence as an escape.
“When I walk out [onstage], whatever pain is gone. You forget about everything. There is no cancer,” Jones said. “There is no sickness. You’re just floating, looking in their faces and hearing them scream. That’s all that is to me.”
According to the band’s website, memorial details are still forthcoming.