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The Sound
D'angelo's sound is a unique blend of rich soul, gritty funk and Jazz, mixed with such influences as Sly Stone, Jimi Hendrix and Prince. His voice is very smooth and silky and musically his sound has a very raw feel.
General facts
Michael Archer (known as D'angelo to his fans) was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1973.
As the son of a preacher, D'angelo showed interest in music at a very early stage, learning to play the piano at the age of 5.
The Appollo
By the time he was 18, D'Angelo was already a 3 times winner of Show Time At The Apollo, and also a member of a rap act called I.D.U.
D'angelo was eventually discovered by a recording executive, who was so impressed with the many demos I.D.U had cut that he requested a meeting with the talented trio.
Writing Brown Sugar
D'angelo, who at the time was gaining much recognition with his musical achievements, wanted to move to New York in search of a record deal, but he was advised by a friend to stay in Virginia to complete several more songs.
Looking back on this retrospectively, D'angelo firmly believes his friend was right. He did, however, make a trip to meet Raphael Saadiq (of Tony Toni Tone and Lucy Pearl fame) to write the song, Lady, for the Brown Sugar album.
Writing for an all-star group
D'angelo's first and most significant song was for the Jason's Lyric soundtrack performed by Black Men United, and was simply entitled, You Will Know - which also features a whole host of major soul singers and went on to become a modest hit.
Brown Sugar sells over 2 million
D'angelo's voice on Brown Sugar has been compared by the scribes to those of Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield and many others. (Not a bad accolade for someone who was once told not to give up his day job, it has to be said)!
Much of D'angelo's music is old skool with a very unique sound. Blessed with a soulful voice that's capable of hitting the sweetest of notes, Brown Sugar was his signature album that catapulted him into the big league of Soul Superstars at the relatively young age of 20.
D'angelo on Marvin Gaye
In an interview taken by Ahmir (a member of The Roots and close friend), D'angelo was asked why he disliked speaking of Marvin Gaye in interviews. His response was this:
"What upset me is how he died. My father was a strict disciplinarian who came from that Bill Cosby School of "I brought you in this world, and I'll take you out!" That was the mantra for every father in the ghetto. And I would remember sometimes he would justify Marvin's death. As in, he disrespected his father and that was the result - it was like he was letting me know that I, too, could choose the same fate if I ever crossed him. And for the longest my fear was dying the same way."
In 1995 D'angelo released his debut album, Brown Sugar, for EMI. It sold over a staggering 2 million copies and spawned 2 hit singles in the process - Lady, and the title track, Brown Sugar.
"I don't want people to think that I keep harping on his life, tryin to be him. The connection that I have with him is his music is genius. But his life scares me. The fear is when I look in the mirror, I see him, in some 6th Sense kind of way. Not, as in, I think I'm Marvin Gaye, but I know he's there. I'm sorry."
