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Album Review | ‘Soul of a Woman’ by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Jones and The Dap-Kings’s final album is a testament to her passion and empathy.
Soul of a Woman is a beautiful way to close the legacy of Sharon Jones. Before the album’s release, Jones would sadly pass after her long battle with pancreatic cancer.
Inspired by the likes of Aretha Franklin and James Brown, Sharon grew from being a child singer in her church’s choir to one of the most essential soul revivalists after teaming up with The Dap-Kings in 2002. Together, they would breathe new life into this beloved retro sound. She would begin to run into issues as her diagnosis and subsequent treatment took a toll on her health.
Academy Award-winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple highlighted Jones’s life, struggles, and passion for the stage in the documentary Miss Sharon Jones! in 2015. Sharon recorded tracks for her next album but sadly succumbed to her illness in late 2016. The Dap-Kings finished the album and released a testament to her compassionate side with the posthumous Soul of a Woman.