For sheer Dap-ness, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings’ throne may have been usurped by Michelle and Barack – the first couple are no doubt the new king and queen of Dap. But anyone who saw Barack on Ellen knows his dancing genes came from the Kansas side. Meanwhile, Dap-Kings’ front woman Sharon Jones, is all soul, all funk and live at the Warfield tomorrow night.
Dubbed “The Queen of Funk,” the retro stylings of her neo-funk band are definitely something to shout about. They've been credited with spearheadaing the neo-funk revival - a movement to recapture the spirit of 60s and 70s funk and soul. And to achieve this, the band uses traditional analogue recording equipment and only instruments that would have been available up until the mid-seventies.
Jones grew up in Augusta, Georgia -- James Brown’ hometown -- singing in church and imitating the Godfather of Soul. She worked for a spell as a prison guard on Riker’s Island, which gives her some serious street cred as an authentic soul singer.
Jones and the Dap-Kings have been fairy unheralded up till now – they contributed significantly to Amy Winehouse's album Back to Black (2006). In fact, six of the album's eleven tracks featured band members and the hits "Rehab" and "You Know I'm No Good", extensively featuring the Dap-Kings. The Dap-Kings then became the backing band used on Amy Winehouse's first U.S. tour.
So whip it to them (respect, just a little bit).