Soul and funk performer Sharon Jones dies at 60

NEW YORK, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Sharon Jones, a former prison guard who found success as a recording artist at the age of 40, has died of pancreatic cancer. She was 60.

"We are deeply saddened to announce Sharon Jones passed away today after a heroic battle against pancreatic cancer," her Facebook page said Friday. "She was surrounded by her loved ones, including the Dap-Kings. Thank you for your prayers and thoughts during this difficult time. ... Additional memorial details will follow soon."

The Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings website noted: "While other artists have ridden the waves of passing fads, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings have bypassed the hype-and-hit superhighway and taken a detour straight to the hearts of their listeners, delivering a visceral rhythm and soul sound to an ever-expanding fan base. The band has traveled the world for more than a decade, blowing minds with their explosive live performances and their raw, hand-crafted studio recordings. The prolific survivor that she is, Sharon Jones has returned to the stage from a 2013 cancer diagnosis and bounced back with a 2014 Grammy nomination for her album, Give the People What They Want, and a new album of holiday classics, It's a Holiday Soul Party!"