Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings | Artist

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings were an American funk and soul band formed 1996 in Brooklyn, New York, by Sharon Jones (vocals), Homer Steinweiss (drums), Binky Griptite (guitar, mc), Fernando Velez (congas, tambourine), Bosco Mann (bass) and Neal Sugarman (tenor saxophone). Signed to Daptone Records, they were part of a revivalist movement recreating 60s-70s style funk and soul music. In the mid-1990s, Philip Lehman and Gabriel Roth (aka Bosco Mann) founded the Soul Providers, and began recording an album of James Brown-inspired material with deep funk artist Lee Fields. After hearing Sharon Jones, a former corrections officer turned singer, record backing vocals for Fields, Lehman and Roth recorded Jones singing solo on two tracks, "Switchblade" and "The Landlord", for the Soul Providers' debut album Soul Tequila, released in 1996. Roth started Daptone records with saxophonist Neal Sugarman and the Dap-Kings were formed consisting of Jones, label owners Roth on bass and Neal Sugarman on saxophone, plus original Soul Providers members, with Sharon Jones fronting on vocals. To-date the band has released Eight studio albums, standouts include the excellent first three releases: Dap-Dippin' With Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Naturally and 100 Days 100 Nights, plus the 2017 release Soul of a Woman. Also highly recommended is the 2011 compilation Soul Time! In addition to their band work Six of the tracks on Amy Winnehouse's 2006 album Back to Black feature various members of the Dap-Kings, including two hits from the album, "Rehab" and "You Know I'm No Good". The Dap-Kings also became the backing band for Amy Winehouse's first U.S. tour. In December 2014, the band was nominated for a Grammy in the category Best R&B Album of the Year for Give the People What They Want. Sharon Jones died in 2016, with the band releasing the posthumous final album Soul of a Woman in 2017. Her backing band have since performed together live and worked with other artists.

Artist Website: sharonjonesandthedapkings.com

Featured Albums: Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings

Related Artists: The Budos Band, Antibalas

Video Clips: Stranger to my Happiness, 100 Days 100 Nights, If You Call