Sharon Jones (1,105 views)

[Seb]

Sharon Lafaye Jones (May 4, 1956 - November 18, 2016)
Vocal Range: C3 - F6
Member of: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (1996 - 2016)

SPOILER: Click to show

{Discography}
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings:
Dap Dippin' with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (2002): F3 - E5
Naturally (2005): D3 - F5 - G5
100 Days, 100 Nights (2007): G3 - E5 - A5
I Learned the Hard Way (2010): E3 - G♯5
Soul Time! (2011, compilation from 2002 - 2011): E3 - F♯5
Give the People What They Want (2014): F♯3 - E5 - G5
It's a Holiday Soul Party (2015): C3 - F5
Soul of a Woman (2017): F3 - E♭5 - F5
Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Was In) (2020, compilation from 2002 - 2016): E3 - B♭5
+ singles, guest appearances & other performances

Significant High Notes:
F6 ("I Got The Feeling")
B♭5 ("Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours")
A5 ("Messin' Up", "Nobody's Baby")
G♯5 ("I'm Still Here", "Money", "Tell Me")
G5 ("All Over Again", "Get Up and Get Out" (live at The Apollo 2014), "Got to Be a Love", "It's Tight Like That", "Retreat", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours", "There Was A Time", "Up Above My Head")
F♯5 ("Damn It's Hot", "Genuine, Pt. 1 & 2", "I'm Gonna Get Ya!")
F5 ("Get Up and Get Out" (live at The Apollo 2014), "I'll Still Be True", "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (live at SF Stern Grove Festival 2011), "Retreat", "This Land Is Your Land", "When I Saw Your Face", "White Christmas")
E5 ("100 Days, 100 Nights", "All Over Again", "Dancing Together", "Funky Little Drummer Boy", "Get Up and Get Out", "Give It Back", "Give Me A Chance", "Got To Be The Way It Is", "Humble Me", "I'm Gonna Get Ya!", "I'm Still Here", "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", "Let Them Knock", "Longer and Stronger", "Make It Good To Me", "Matter Of Time", "Messin' Up", "Money", "Nobody's Baby", "Now I See", "People Don't Get What They Deserve", "Switchblade", "The Game Gets Old" (live at Auckland 2010), "Think Twice", "Up Above My Head", "White Christmas", "You're Gonna Get It")
E♭5 ("Better Things", "Cut The Line", "Damn It's Hot", "Genuine, Pt. 1 & 2", "Girl! (You Got To Forgive Him)", "Got to Be a Love", "He Said I Can", "I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues / Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me", "I Learned The Hard Way", "I'm Still Here", "If You Call", "In The Bush", "It Hurts To Be Alone", "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", "Mama Don't Like My Man", "Natural Born Lover", "New Shoes", "Pick It Up, Lay It in the Cut", "Please Come Home for Christmas", "Searching for a New Day", "Silent Night", "Silver Bells", "When I Saw Your Face", "Without A Heart", "You'll Be Lonely")
D5 ("100 Days, 100 Nights", "Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects", "All Over Again", "Answer Me", "Be Easy", "Call on God", "Come On & Save Me", "Fish Is The Dish", "Get Up and Get Out", "Give It Back", "Giving Up", "Goldfinger", "Got To Be The Way It Is", "Humble Me", "I Idolize You", "I'll Go Crazy", "I'll Still Be True", "I'm Gonna Get Ya!", "Inspiration Information", "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", "It's Tight Like That", "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", "Just Give Me Your Time", "Keep on Looking", "Little by Little", "Long Time, Wrong Time", "Making Up and Breaking Up (And Making Up and Breaking Up Over Again)", "Matter Of Time", "Messin' Up", "Midnight Rider", Nobody's Baby", 'Pass Me By", "People Don't Get What They Deserve", "Retreat", "She Ain't A Child No More", "Signed, Sealed Delivered I'm Yours", "Silent Night", "Something's Changed", "Stranger to My Happiness", "Take Me With U", "That's What My Baby Likes", "The Game Gets Old", "There Was A Time", "Up Above My Head", "We Get Along", "We Shall Not Be Moved", "White Christmas", "Wild About That Thing", "Window Shopping", "Without a Trace")
C♯5 ("8 Days of Hannukah", "Better Things", "Come and Be a Winner", "Cut The Line", "Dancing Together", "Genuine, Pt. 1 & 2", "Girl! (You Got To Forgive Him)", "Got To Be The Way It Is", "He Said I Can", "How Long Do I Have To Wait", "Humble Me", "I'm Not Gonna Cry", "I'm Still Here", "If You Call", "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", "Let Them Knock", "My Soul is a Witness", "Natural Born Lover", "Please Come Home for Christmas", "Rumors", "Slow Down, Love", "Tell Me", "The Way We Lived", "When I Come Home", "When I Saw Your Face", "When The Other Foot Drops", "You're Gonna Get It", "Your Thing Is A Drag")
C5 ("100 Days, 100 Nights", "Answer Me", "Call on God", "Come On & Save Me", "Funky Little Drummer Boy", "Get Up and Get Out", "Give It Back", "Give Me A Chance", "Giving Up", "Goldfinger", "Gotta Stand for Something", "Heaven Bound", "Here I Am Baby", "How Do I Let A Good Man Down", "I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues / Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me", "I Got The Feeling", "I Idolize You", "I Learned The Hard Way", "I'll Go Crazy", "In The Bush", "Just Give Me Your Time", "Keep on Looking", "Let Them Knock", "Little by Little", "Long Time, Wrong Time", "Make It Good To Me", "Mama Don't Like My Man", "Making Up and Breaking Up (And Making Up and Breaking Up Over Again)", "People Don't Get What They Deserve", "Sail On!", "Searching for a New Day", "She Ain't A Child No More", "Silent Night", "Silver Bells", "Something's Changed", "Stranded in Your Love", "Stranger to My Happiness", "Take Me With U", "These Tears (No Longer for You)", "Two Wings", "What a Have You Done For Me Lately", "What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?", "White Christmas", "Wild About That Thing", "Without a Heart", "Without a Trace", "You'll Be Lonely")
B4 ("8 Days of Hannukah", "All Over Again", "Answer Me", "Be Easy", "Do The Crank", "Give It Back", "Got a Thing on My Mind", "How Long Do I Have To Wait", "Humble Me", "I'm Not Gonna Cry", "Longer and Stronger", "Money", "My Soul is a Witness", "Nobody's Baby", "Now I See", "Pass Me By", "Pick It Up, Lay It in the Cut", "Please Come Home for Christmas", "Rescue Me", "Switchblade", "The Dap Dip", "The Game Gets Old", "The Way We Lived", "Up Above My Head", "We Get Along", "When The Other Foot Drops", "Window Shopping", "Withered Hope", "You Better Think Twice", "You're Gonna Get It")
B♭4 ("Better Things", "Big Bulbs", "Come and Be a Winner", "Cut The Line", "Damn It's Hot", "Dancing Together", "Fish Is The Dish", "Funky Little Drummer Boy", "Genuine, Pt. 1 & 2", "Girl! (You Got To Forgive Him)", "Giving Up", "Got to Be a Love", "I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues / Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me", "I Idolize You", "If You Call", "It Hurts To Be Alone", "Just Give Me Your Time", "Little by Little", "Long Time, Wrong Time", "Making Up and Breaking Up (And Making Up and Breaking Up Over Again)", "Messin' Up", Natural Born Lover", "New Shoes", "Retreat", "Rumors", "Sail On!", "Searching for a New Day", "She Ain't A Child No More", "Silent Night", "Silver Bells", "Slow Down, Love", "Take Me With U", "Tell Me", "That's What My Baby Likes", "There Was A Time", "The Way We Lived", "This Land Is Your Land", "Two Wings", "What a Have You Done For Me Lately", "When I Come Home", "When I Saw Your Face", "Wild About That Thing", "Without A Heart", "Your Thing Is A Drag")
A4 ("100 Days, 100 Nights", "Ain't It Hard", "Ain't No Chimneys In The Projects", "Answer Me", "Call on God", "Come On & Save Me", "Goldfinger", "Got a Thing on My Mind", "Gotta Stand for Something", "Heaven Bound", "Here I Am Baby", "How Do I Let A Good Man Down", "I'll Go Crazy", "I'll Still Be True", "In The Bush", "Inspiration Information", "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", "Just Another Christmas Song (This Time I'll Sing Along)", "Keep on Looking", "Little by Little", "Make It Good To Me", "Matter Of Time", "Midnight Rider", "Pass Me By", "Pick It Up, Lay It in the Cut", "Representing Memphis", "Rescue Me", "Settling In", "Something's Changed", "Stranded in Your Love", "Stranger to My Happiness", "The Dap Dip", "The Game Gets Old", "These Tears (No Longer for You)", "We Shall Not Be Moved", "What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?", "Window Shopping", "Without a Trace", "You Better Think Twice")

Significant Low Notes:
B♭3 ("Come and Be a Winner", "Cut The Line", "Fish is The Dish", "Give Me A Chance", "Giving Up", "Goldfinger", "I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues / Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me", "I Idolize You", "It Hurts To Be Alone", "Just Another Christmas Song (This Time I'll Sing Along)", "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)", "Just Give Me Your Time", "Let Them Knock", "Making Up and Breaking Up (And Making Up and Breaking Up Over Again)", "New Shoes", "Rumors", "Sail On!", "Searching for a New Day", "Silent Night", "Slow Down, Love", "Tell Me", "The Dap Dip", "The Way We Lived", "This Land is Your Land", "What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes?", "When I Come Home", "When I Saw Your Face", "Wild About That Thing", "You're Gonna Get It")
A3 ("100 Days, 100 Nights", "Ain't It Hard", "Answer Me", "Be Easy", "Come On & Save Me", "Do The Crank", "Get Up and Get Out", "Got To Be The Way It Is", "Gotta Stand for Something", "Here I Am Baby", "How Do I Let A Good Man Down", "I'll Go Crazy", "I'm Not Gonna Cry", "In The Bush", "Inspiration Information", "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", "It's Tight Like That", "Keep on Looking", "Little by Little", "Longer & Stronger", "Make It Good To Me", "Midnight Rider", "Now I See", "Pass Me By", "People Don't Get What They Deserve", "Signed, Sealed Delivered I'm Yours", "Something's Changed", "Stranded in Your Love", "Stranger to My Happiness", "The Dap Dip", "The Game Gets Old", "Try Me")
G♯3 ("8 Days of Hannukah", "Better Things", "Genuine, Pt. 2", "Girl! (You Got To Forgive Him)", "Giving Up", "Goldfinger", "Got to Be a Love", "I Got The Feeling", "I Learned The Hard Way", "I'm Still Here", "If You Call", "It Hurts To Be Alone", "Long Time, Wrong Time", "Please Come Home for Christmas", "Slow Down, Love", "Tell Me", "That's What My Baby Likes", "The Way We Lived", "When I Saw Your Face", "When The Other Foot Drops", "Wild About That Thing")
G3 ("All Over Again", "Fish Is The Dish", "Get Up and Get Out" (Live at The Apollo 2014), "Give It Back", "I Idolize You", "Inspiration Information", "It's a Man's Man's Man's World", "Just Another Christmas Song (This Time I'll Sing Along)", "Just Give Me Your Time", "Midnight Rider", "People Don't Get What They Deserve", "Sail On!", "She Ain't A Child No More", "Something's Changed", "Stranded in Your Love", "Stranger to My Happiness", Without Your Love")
F♯3 ("8 Days of Hannukah", "Better Things", "Big Bulbs", "Girl! (You Got To Forgive Him)", "Got to Be a Love", "I'm Gonna Get Ya!", "I'm Still Here", "Pass Me By", "Please Come Home for Christmas", "Stranger to My Happiness", "Without Your Love")
F3 ("Ain't It Hard", "Come and Be a Winner", "I Learned The Hard Way", "In The Bush", "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" (Live at SF Stern Grove Festival 2011),"Just Give Me Your Time", "Midnight Rider", "Settling In", "That's What My Baby Likes")
E3 ("Inspiration Information", "It's Tight Like That", "Money", "Switchblade", "Window Shopping")
D3 ("All Over Again")
C3 ("Big Bulbs")

• Blue denotes falsetto and whistle passages.
• Boldface denotes outstanding passages.
• Italics denote non-melodic and spoken passages.
• Underlines denote obscured and background passages.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Vocal Summary}
It would appear that Sharon Jones was destined to become a soul goddess against the odds of being in a far different point in time to James Brown and Aretha Franklin in their heyday. While having performed in church choirs and backing vocal sessions since around the late 70's, Jones' big break would arrive in 1996, where her standout vocals at a recording session led to her first officially released leading record at age 40. A few years later, she'd become the frontwoman of Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and arguably the most beloved, authentic voice in soul music during her tenure. She'd thrill audiences with her nimble dance moves, energetic yet humble personality and showstopping, gritty vocals, often being referred to as "the female James Brown" by fans (which becomes an even easier comparison to make once you realize that they're both from Augusta, Georgia, though she'd constantly prefer to be known as her individual self). She'd remain a joyous, lively performer, even in the midst of dealing with pancreatic cancer, and her work has received and continues to receive media exposure, attention and fan recognition years after her passing at age 60.

Jones' voice was relatively middle placed. Certainly not lower placed, but with a upper register mostly set around the upper 4th/lower 5th octave. All things considered, her voice was perfect for her music: a powerful, robust mezzo-soprano bridging raspy and clean passages seamlessly and full of stamina. Virtually every performance of hers consistently brought levels of energy better than the best of her peers, especially ones in their middle age and beyond. Jones often performed in her middle-to-upper register and did so at an agile pace, though her few longer sustained notes were as superb as they could be ("Genuine", "100 Days, 100 Nights"). Even more of an anomaly is her capacity to replicate James Brown's 6th octave howls in a cover of his song, "I Got The Feeling". It is unknown as to why she didn't use this facet of her voice in other performances, but given her comparisons to the soul greats, she really didn't have to. She used the range she needed to deliver some of soul and funk's most captivating, fierce vocals and become known as a legend of soul to those who believe in the genre's everlasting fire.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Questionable Notes}
F♯6 ("Pick It Up, Lay It in the Cut" [1])
D6 ("Come On & Save Me" [3])
B5 ("Matter Of Time" [2], Money" [3])
G♯5 ("He Said I Can" [1], "My Soul Is A Witness" [1])
G5 ("Keep on Looking" [1])
F♯5 ("Matter Of Time" [3])

E3 ("When The Other Foot Drops" [3])
B2 ("Please Come Home for Christmas" [1])
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.

SPOILER: Click to show

{Bolded Notes}
G5 ("All Over Again")
E♭5 ("Better Things", "Genuine Pt. 1 & 2")
D5 ("Goldfinger", "Humble Me", "Up Above My Head")
C♯5 ("Let Them Knock", "You're Gonna Get It")
C5 ("Give Me A Chance")
A4 ("100 Days, 100 Nights", "Heaven Bound")