MY WEEKEND: Sharon Jones
They make ’em tough in Brooklyn. Soul singer Sharon Jones grew up in Bed-Stuy during the ’60s and ’70s dreaming of being a star, only to be dismissed for her appearance instead of lauded for her talent. When Jones and her band the Dap-Kings released their Grammy-nominated breakthrough album “Give the People What They Want” in 2014, a cancer diagnosis presented her with a new, more serious challenge. This story is told in the film “Miss Sharon Jones,” which opens Friday. Although she now spends most of her time in Sharon Springs, NY, here Jones, 60, tells HARDEEPPHULL about her ideal New York weekend.
I LOVE Daptone Records’ headquarters in [Bushwick,] Brooklyn. Whenever we go in there, the family is coming together, and the creativity starts working, you see everyone go into creativity mode.
When I was growing up, going out to Coney Island was a big deal. You had to get on the Cyclone no matter what. No matter how old it is. Going to get those sausages with onions. It’s not the same people anymore selling the sausages — they’re different now. I love the bumper cars and the go-carts. And trying to shoot something to win stuff — whether it’s the water guns or shooting the star out of the middle of that piece of paper. The rifle supposedly has 100 shots, which they do not.
When I was younger, we used to go to Prospect Park in Brooklyn. It was a good walk from our neighborhood. We’d catch the train there and walk back. Have a couple picnics here and there.
Now when I’m in the city I stay at the Dream Hotel. They treat me pretty well. It’s good to come in the lobby and hear your songs being played. They always say, “Ms. Jones, good to have you back.” A lot of them are big fans.
One of the new places I need to see is the new World Trade Center. I haven’t been down in that area . . . since 2001. See the names and the water, that’s something I want to do.
My old bandleader runs one of the best music stores. He had a store in Brooklyn, but then he moved to Staten Island and opened Castellano’s House of Music, one of the best music stores, where you can buy instruments and take lessons.
And I used to love fishing from the Canarsie Pier and from the shores of the Rockaways.