Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Name	Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Caption	Sharon Jones performing in 2012
Origin	Brooklyn, New York, United States
Genres	Soul, Funk, R&B
Years active	1996–2016
Labels	Daptone Records
Associated acts	Lee Fields, Charles Bradley, Mark Ronson

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings were an American soul and funk ensemble formed in Brooklyn, New York, noted for a revivalist approach to 1960s and 1970s rhythm and blues. Led by singer Sharon Jones and fronted instrumentally by The Dap-Kings, the group recorded for Daptone Records and collaborated with artists across United States and international scenes, contributing to a broader retro-soul resurgence. Their recordings and live performances intersected with producers, labels, and festivals associated with contemporary soul revival and popular culture.

History

The ensemble emerged in the late 1990s when musicians associated with Brooklyn, New York session projects coalesced around vocalist Sharon Jones, who had earlier worked in Harlem and performed in venues linked to the Apollo Theater. Early collaborators included musicians connected to the Fania Records and Stax Records legacies, while organizational support came from founders of Daptone Records and the independent label ecosystem in New York City. The group’s breakthrough aligned with releases on Daptone and increased visibility through partnerships with producers such as Mark Ronson and compilations curated by labels like Truth & Soul Records. Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, the band toured across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, appearing at gatherings including the Glastonbury Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Newport Jazz Festival. The band underwent personnel adjustments while maintaining a core horn and rhythm section influenced by studio practices at historic sites such as Muscle Shoals and FAME Studios. Following Sharon Jones’s cancer diagnoses and subsequent treatments, activity slowed; her death in 2016 led to statements from peers including Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé, and Questlove acknowledging her influence.

Musical style and influences

The ensemble’s sound drew explicitly on recorded catalogs from Atlantic Records, Motown Records, Stax Records, and sessions produced by figures like Jerry Wexler and Phil Spector. Their instrumentation emphasized analog recording techniques, vintage microphones, and tape-era approaches associated with studios such as Sun Studio and Chess Records. Vocal phrasing and arrangements referenced artists including Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Etta James, Otis Redding, and Marvin Gaye, while horn lines evoked sections like the MG's and arrangements by Quincy Jones. Rhythm patterns and groove concepts also reflected influences from Funkadelic and Sly Stone, and their repertoire sometimes intersected with material popularized by Curtis Mayfield. Producers and engineers connected to the band cited inspirations from the catalogues of Hi Records and the production aesthetics of Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin.

Band members and lineup changes

Core personnel included a horn section, rhythm section, and backing vocalists drawn from the Brooklyn and greater New York session community. Founding and long-term contributors comprised musicians who had associations with ensembles and artists like Lee Fields, Charles Bradley, Menahan Street Band, and studio groups affiliated with Daptone Records. Over time the lineup shifted as members pursued projects with Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings contemporaries such as Aloe Blacc, The Black Keys, The Roots, and producers including Dâm-Funk. Touring personnel rotated for international schedules, with occasional guest appearances by artists from Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, and horn players who worked with Stevie Wonder and Prince.

Discography

The band’s albums were released principally on Daptone and included studio LPs, singles, and compilations that tapped into collectors’ markets and modern streaming platforms. Key releases charted in various national lists and were distributed alongside releases from labels such as Stones Throw Records and Ninja Tune through distribution partnerships. Notable records and singles sampled or cited by producers appeared on soundtracks and compilations alongside tracks by The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, David Bowie, and contemporary soul revivalists. Their catalog has been reissued by specialty vinyl imprints and featured in retrospectives curated by institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and radio programs on stations such as BBC Radio 6 Music and NPR.

Notable performances and tours

The group performed at major festivals and venues tied to global popular music circuits, including headline slots at Glastonbury Festival and support roles on tours with artists such as Mark Ronson and Amy Winehouse. They appeared on television programs and award show stages associated with broadcasters like the BBC and networks including PBS and MTV. International tours included appearances at the Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and concert halls in cities like London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, and Sydney. Collaborations on high-profile recordings and live sets linked them to sessions with Dan Auerbach and orchestral players from institutions like the London Symphony Orchestra for special projects.

Awards and recognition

The band received critical acclaim from publications such as Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, The New York Times, and Mojo (magazine), and earned nominations and awards from industry bodies and critics’ polls. Individual songs and albums featured in year-end lists by outlets including NME, Spin (magazine), and Uncut, while their contributions to recordings and soundtracks garnered acknowledgments from organizations such as the GRAMMY Awards voting constituency and independent music associations. Sharon Jones and the ensemble were frequently cited in retrospectives on soul revival movements alongside artists like Charles Bradley and labels like Daptone Records.

Legacy and impact

The ensemble’s commitment to vintage recording techniques and DIY independent label practices influenced a generation of musicians and labels in Brooklyn, Los Angeles, and international scenes. Their work affected producers and artists across genres including hip hop producers who sampled analog soul records, contemporary R&B performers, and soundtrack curators for films by directors like Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese. Institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution and music studies programs at universities documented the band’s role in the 21st-century soul revival, and contemporary artists from Adele to Leon Bridges have cited the movement’s aesthetic as formative. The band’s catalog continues to be discovered through reissues, archival projects, and sampling by producers tied to labels including Stones Throw Records and XL Recordings.

Category:American soul musical groups Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn