Sharon Jones Quotes

Powerful Sharon Jones for Daily Growth

About Sharon Jones

Sharon Jones, a powerhouse of soul and funk music, was born on May 4, 1956, in Augusta, Georgia. Growing up in the rural town of South Augusta, she developed a deep love for music at an early age, inspired by the gospel music played in local churches and the soulful sounds of James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Otis Redding that filled the airwaves. Jones moved to New York City in 1995 to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. She faced numerous challenges, including holding down multiple jobs while performing gigs at night. However, her determination never waned. In 2002, Jones formed The Dap-Kings, a 10-piece soul band that would become her creative and commercial partner for the next decade. Their first collaboration resulted in the album "Dapa," which was released in 2005. However, it was their second album, "100 Days, 100 Nights" (2007), that brought them wider recognition. The title track became a staple of the funk revival movement. In 2014, Jones released her most successful album, "Give the People What They Want." It reached number 13 on the Billboard charts and earned Jones her first Grammy nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance for the single "Retreat!" Jones was diagnosed with biliary cancer in 2013, but continued to perform and tour while undergoing treatment. Jones passed away on November 18, 2016, leaving behind a legacy of powerful music that continues to inspire fans around the world. Her life story serves as a testament to the power of determination, resilience, and the healing power of music.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I'm a hard worker. I want people to see me and say, 'That girl fought for her dreams.'"

This quote expresses Sharon Jones's determination, resilience, and unwavering commitment to her dreams. She values hard work as a means of not only achieving her goals but also making an impact on others by inspiring them with her perseverance. In essence, she wants to be remembered for fighting diligently for her aspirations.


"When you're struggling, it's not about forgetting what you went through; it's about remembering that you were strong enough to live through it."

This quote emphasizes resilience and personal strength in the face of adversity. When one is going through difficult times, it's not about blocking out or forgetting the challenges they faced, but rather drawing on the memory of having survived those hardships to find the inner fortitude needed to continue moving forward. In essence, it highlights that our past struggles serve as a testament to our resilience and ability to endure, inspiring hope for future triumphs.


"I always say when the man is ready, the woman will appear."

This quote by Sharon Jones suggests that a person's readiness (emotional, mental, or spiritual maturity) plays a significant role in attracting a suitable partner. In other words, when an individual has prepared themselves fully to engage in a meaningful relationship, the right person will eventually appear in their life. It emphasizes the importance of self-growth and development as a prerequisite for healthy and fulfilling relationships.


"I'm here for a reason, and my purpose is to show other people they can do it too."

Sharon Jones' quote highlights her personal belief in the power of example. She asserts that she has a unique role in inspiring others by demonstrating what can be achieved with determination, resilience, and self-belief. By openly sharing her journey and success, she encourages others to recognize their own potential and strive for their goals, instilling hope and motivation within the community. In essence, she uses her life story as a catalyst for change and empowerment in those around her.


"I was born to do this. This is my life. I don't know how to live any other way."

This quote by Sharon Jones encapsulates a deep-seated passion and purpose for her chosen career, in this case, music. It suggests that she believes her existence and identity are intrinsically linked to her professional life as an artist. The quote implies a sense of destiny, where she feels compelled to fulfill her role as a performer, expressing herself fully without knowing any other way of living or being. This mindset is often found in those who have found their true calling and embody it wholeheartedly.


As for meat, I'm not going to become vegetarian. I'm telling you that right now. I want me a steak. I want me a pork chop. I want me a lamb chop, even a piece of duck every once in awhile. We used to have ham and salami, all that crazy stuff. I can't eat processed food. I've got to find local farmers and get natural foods.

- Sharon Jones

Steak, Telling, Foods, Duck

I think I bring the songs that aren't about me or related to me to life. It's like the song 'How Do I Let A Good Man Down?' Let me tell you, I didn't write that song - because if I have a good man, I ain't going to let him down.

- Sharon Jones

Tell, Bring, I Think, A Good Man

I chose not to put a wig on. The reason why I chose to come out with the cancer thing is because there's somebody out there who can see that all sickness isn't unto death. That it's something you can't change at that point in time, so you just got to go with it. Don't be ashamed. Don't be ashamed of looking at yourself.

- Sharon Jones

Death, Reason, Why, Wig

I miss my hair, but I feel like going out there with some fake braids wouldn't be right. I want to be the most genuine performer I can be.

- Sharon Jones

Some, Performer, Like, Fake

At first, they told me it was just bile-duct cancer, but once they went in, they removed the gallbladder, the head of my pancreas, and a foot-and-a-half of my small intestine, and built me another bile duct and connected it to my stomach. It turned out to be pancreatic cancer, stage two, so, very aggressive.

- Sharon Jones

Small, Very, Turned, Aggressive

Until the '90s, major labels were looking for a certain look. This Sony guy told me I was 'too black, too fat, too short, and too old.' Told me to go and bleach my skin. Told me to step in the background and just stay back. I had the voice, but I didn't have the looks.

- Sharon Jones

Voice, Skin, Back, Sony

I love the smaller clubs. I love the theaters. I love the festivals. There are things I don't like. At certain theaters, people can't get up and dance.

- Sharon Jones

Love, Festivals, Smaller, Theaters

I'm sitting at home every time there's a Grammy. It's like, 'What is Sharon doing tonight?' I'm sitting home watching it. But it's OK. But if you go to Europe, there are a lot of young, independent labels that's doing soul music. You might call them retro because they're young and they're trying to imitate somebody. But I ain't retro.

- Sharon Jones

Doing, Tonight, Sharon, OK

I sing this song in church - 'I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me.' I got a feeling that all these shows, all this everything, is part of my blessing. And in my heart, I know I'm going to do every show, and everything is going to be OK.

- Sharon Jones

Church, Part, Brought, OK

If I can't pronounce it, I don't want to put it in my body. Everything to me now is organic, natural, right from the farm.

- Sharon Jones

Want, Natural, Natural Right, Organic

I don't know why I keep saying this, and I don't know why I keep using their names... And I'm not dogging them. I'm not slandering them. I'm not saying they are bad musicians. But how can Taylor Swift or Justin Timberlake win for R&B and funk? They are pop singers.

- Sharon Jones

Musicians, Bad, Why, Justin

I'd love to get into one of Tyler Perry's movies - play a little role, have a little character. I don't care. But more than two lines! More than two words!

- Sharon Jones

Love, Play, Role, Perry

I never got to meet Michael Jackson, and he's gone - so to be on stage with Prince was like if Michael... you know what I'm saying? And Prince, he's just such a warmhearted guy. He's so humble. He's such a spiritual man. I like his style.

- Sharon Jones

Humble, Guy, Got, None

Phish is such a good band; they just make stuff up as a jam band.

- Sharon Jones

Band, Jam, Up, Good Band

I'm telling the story, and if I can't tell the story, I'm not going to sing it. And if I don't agree with the story, and if I got to sing something that portrays me as something I'm not, then I'm not going to sing it either. I didn't even want to sing Aretha Franklin's 'Chain of Fools.'

- Sharon Jones

Going, Chain, Telling, Fools

Once I retire and slow down, I don't want to be in New York. I want to be somewhere near a lake or a pond, so that on my days when I have nothing to do, I can go fishing.

- Sharon Jones

New, Want, Pond, Lake

The only thing I wanted to accomplish was to finally get recognized by the music industry. If you know the awards, answer me this question: Do you see an award for soul music? No. They have R&B, funk, hip-hop and all sorts of contemporary things.

- Sharon Jones

Soul, The Only Thing, Hip-Hop

In Rikers, you had the Italians over here, the Spanish over here, the Blacks here, then there would be your Christians here and your Muslim brotherhood here. It's just like the outside, but in very closed quarters where you have to get along or else. The sense of claustrophobia in 'Orange is the New Black' - that's real.

- Sharon Jones

Here, Muslim, Very, Quarters

I was onstage one night and was singing. I hit one note, and I just doubled over. It was like being punched hard in the back. I couldn't put my back up on the plane seat because of the pain. I got massages, thinking it was muscle spasms. The doctor told me at the time that it was my pancreas. I didn't even know.

- Sharon Jones

Over It, Note, Plane, One Night

Everything on my body turned real dark. My toes, under my feet, inside my mouth, under my tongue - I just turned really dark. I'm still here, but it's gonna take a while to get back to normal. Chemo kills all the good cells along with the bad.

- Sharon Jones

Feet, Here, Turned, Toes

I'm not trying to be a pop singer.

- Sharon Jones

Trying, Singer, Pop, Pop Singer

When I first played at the Apollo, the owner didn't even know who Sharon Jones was. The Apollo had never seen so many white people coming uptown.

- Sharon Jones

Had, Apollo, Owner, Sharon

Me and the Dap-Kings, the whole band is playing a wedding band in 'The Wolf of Wall Street.'

- Sharon Jones

Me, Street, Whole, Wolf

I feel like this: When you call me in to do something with you, you must want me to do soul-singing. Because you know I'm a soul singer. Don't ask me to come in and rap. And don't ask me to come in and sing pop.

- Sharon Jones

Soul, Singer, Feel, Rap

Every time I do a gig, my goal is getting new fans.

- Sharon Jones

Goal, New, Getting, Gig

People buy my albums, and I love my albums when I do them because we try to record live with that same energy, but I can never get the energy that I have when I'm live.

- Sharon Jones

Love, Buy, Them, Albums

For me, music is my joy. It's my happiness. As long as this medicine, this chemo is in my body, I didn't have my love, my joy.

- Sharon Jones

Love, Body, Long, Medicine

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