Music

Sharon Jones talks Stevie Wonder collaboration and details relationship with Prince

by Anne T. Donahue

It’s Sharon Jones’ year. Despite an appearance in the 2007 Denzel Washington film The Great Debators, recent collaborations with Lou Reed and Michael Buble, and an opening stint for Prince at Madison Square Garden this past January, her upcoming gig alongside Stevie Wonder will arguably catapult the veteran soul singer into the well-deserved spotlight.

“I’m going to be doing something with Stevie Wonder,” confirms Jones. “July 24 at the Hollywood Bowl, and I think it’s also going to be televised. And I think I’m going to be on Letterman with him also. But not even the Dap-Kings – just me. I heard it’s some sort of dedication to Marvin Gaye, but I have no idea yet. I’m just getting excited.”

Humbleness is typical for the 55-year-old Jones, who, despite the professional company she keeps, is quick to deny she’s by any means “made it”. Having found success only recently, the songstress has used her maturity to put fame in perspective, embracing her independence and individuality despite the presence of industry heavy-hitters who once pressured her otherwise.

“Being born in the 50s in the south, I lived through a lot – segregation and being dark skinned,” she shares. “And this guy – he was just one person I’m singling out, and he worked for Sony – told me I was too black, too fat, too short and once I passed 25, too old. And I look back and I’m still black, I’m pleasantly plump, and I’m still short – I haven’t grown an inch. I’m 55-years-old right now, and I was 25 at the time, so here we go. And it’s 30 years later and here I am living my life and life is just great.”

“[Though] I haven’t ‘made it’,” she adds. “I was crawling [and] where I’m at right now, I just stood up. I’m taking my first baby steps. That’s where I feel I’m at in life.”

Crawling, baby steps or full-on strides, many would argue that despite Jones’ demure perspective, she’s achieved far more than she’s taken credit for. After all, not everyone can call refer to Prince as a sibling.

“When I was with Prince at Madison Square Garden, [it] was like being with Michael Jackson, you know?” she shares. “Because Michael and Prince had that little battle thing going on. Prince – I love him [and] meeting him in person, he was such a spiritual man. He’s so humble. And people don’t know that about him. You don’t know anything about Prince. But to me, it was one of the greatest experiences. He called me his sister, I call him my brother.”

So what advice does she have for burgeoning artists in pursuit of their dreams?

“If you’ve got the talent if you’ve got the gift, be sincere with all your heart,” Jones concludes. “Don’t let people tell you that you [don’t have] it. I wasn’t trying to be a pop singer. I wasn’t trying to be Beyonce or Jennifer Lopez or anyone. I’m just Sharon Jones. And if you’ve got a talent, follow your heart; follow your dream. If it’s true, it’s going to shine.”