::GET FAMILIAR:: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

::GET FAMILIAR:: Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
by Daniel Harris

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings

Soul music knows no bounds. It has no demographic, no target market and no rating system to judge its effectiveness. This may sound like an oversimplification of this great genre but: if a person has a soul, then a person should feel soul. Everyone can relate to wanting and hoping for change or being at a crossroad with feelings for a past love.

For the better part of a decade, Sharon Jones, along with her band The Dap Kings, have been true ambassadors of Soul music. Sharon's straight forward, deep and bluntly honest lyrics, her gritty, heavy, voice are an ode to a time when getting lost in music was an everyday occurrence. The way she is able to coax emotions and feeling out of everything from paying taxes to being nobody's baby, is nothing short of fascinating!

And please, do not for one second think that The Dap Kings are just some run of the mill, everyday, "back up band." On the contrary! The Dap Kings are a very talented group of musicians who have performed with the late Amy Winehouse, The Heavy and Muse, just to name a few. The band's powerful, rich, funky sound is like a time machine traveling back to the days of session musicians and analog recording studios.

It's a perfect combination. Sharon Jones' dynamic voice and songwriting along with The Dap Kings' bold sound collide to produce a unique and authentic music experience.

I'd like to end on a personal note: This past Summer, Sharon Jones fans (myself included) discovered that her entire Summer tour would be canceled due to a battle with cancer. Shortly after her return to the stage was announced, Sharon told New York Times Style Magazine, "When I see the video for 'Retreat' now, I'm like, wow! I'm telling my sickness to retreat. I'm coming back!"

As a long time fan and follower of Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, I am thrilled to see Sharon back and doing what she loves. On January 14th, I am eager to celebrate the release of their new album, Give the People What They Want.

Get even more familiar with Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings! Follow them on Twitter, like them on Facebook and visit their website for news and tour information.