re: Endless Sleep - The Obituary Thread

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Sharon Jones, the fiery soul singer who spent decades in obscurity before becoming a Grammy-nominated soul and funk vocalist with her longtime backing band the Dap-Kings, died on Friday of pancreatic cancer. She was 60.

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

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Jones started numerous funk groups in the 1970, earning extra money by performing in wedding bands and singing gospel music. But for decades, she had trouble breaking in to the industry.

After retreating from music for a few years, Jones became a back-up singer for New York funk and soul label Desco Records in 1996 and would release her debut album Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, in 2002.

The group continued to record and tour constantly, watching their crowds grow as Jones' roaring voice, frenetic energy and gregarious personality surpassed the initial "female James Brown" comparisons.

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