Soul singer Sharon Jones, who was in Australia in January with her regular band the Dap-Kings for a well-received summer tour, has been forced to postpone her forthcoming tour commitments and cancel the band’s latest album release after being diagnosed with cancer.
A statement on the Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings website announces that the 57-year-old singer has “been diagnosed with stage-one bile duct cancer, which has fortunately been discovered early and has not spread,” but requires immediate surgery.
“It is expected that the immediate proposed surgical solution will lead to a full recovery,” continues the statement, “but because of its invasive and complex nature, will necessitate a rather lengthy convalescence.” The RnB and funk group had planned to release their latest studio album Give The People What They Want on 6th August and were already on tour through North America.
The singer was forced to miss shows recently after reportedly feeling unwell. After seeking medical advice, doctors ascertained the source of her illness. Writing to her fans, Jones says that she is “down, but not out!” A statement from the singer reads:
Over the last few weeks I haven’t felt good and I didn’t know what was going on. We sadly had to cancel shows while I went through a series of tests and short hospital stays. We just found out that I have a stage-one tumor on my bile duct.
Luckily we caught it really early and fast and the doctors say it’s operable and curable! I will be having surgery very soon and will have to rest and recover. I’ll be staying in touch and keeping my fans and friends updated on my progress. I’m looking forward to getting back on the road to give the people what they want!”
The band note that Jones is expected to make a full recovery and that “Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings will be back before you know it, with a new release date and rescheduled tours worldwide.”
Give The People What They Want is to be the funk masters’ sixth studio album since their 2002 debut LP, Dap Dippin’ with Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings.
You can listen to Jones’ latest single, “Retreat”, off the upcoming album, Give The People What They Want, below.
