Groundbreaking soul artist D’Angelo died on Tuesday, October 14, following a private battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 51. The four-time Grammy-winning artist was a pivotal figure in the neo-soul movement that emerged in the mid-1990s. He stunned the music world with the release of his landmark album Brown Sugar in 1995. The mesmerizing title track heated the airwaves and found its way onto many personal playlists, and the rest of the album is equally brilliant.
His next two albums, Voodoo (2000) and Black Messiah (2014), were instant classics, showcasing D’Angelo’s continued growth as an artist. His sound was a satisfying gumbo of gospel, R&B, soul, jazz, and hip-hop. He was a gifted singer-songwriter and producer, as well as a charismatic live performer. He was also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, drums, bass, keyboards, and saxophone. And he owned one of the most soulful voices in contemporary music.
D’Angelo made a huge impact on music through his phenomenal talent and artistry, influencing legions of artists. Some of the prominent artists that he has had a major influence on include Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino, Miguel, The Weeknd, Janelle Monáe, Giveon, SZA, Anderson .Paak, H.E.R., and Daniel Caesar.
D’Angelo was born Michael Eugene Archer in Richmond, Virginia, on February 11, 1974. His father was a Pentecostal preacher. Growing up in the church, D’Angelo developed a love for music at an early age. He began playing the piano at the age of three, picked up the organ at four, and by the time he was five, he was playing piano alongside his father during church services. Some of D’Angelo’s key musical influences were Prince, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, the Pilgrim Jubilees, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Robert Blair (leader of the gospel group Fantastic Violinaires).
D’Angelo formed his first band, Michael Archer and Precise, at age 16. The band had three consecutive wins at Amateur Night competitions at the Apollo Theater in New York. Encouraged by this, D’Angelo dropped out of high school at 18 to launch a music career in New York. He landed a recording contract with EMI Records in 1993, following a three-hour piano recital for record executives.
He released his debut album, Brown Sugar, on July 3, 1995. The collection was showered with praise by critics and music lovers, and he was heralded as an important new voice in R&B and soul music. And he followed up the great promise of his debut album with the incredible masterworks Voodoo and Black Messiah, leaving no doubt that he was one of the most talented and innovative artists of his generation.
D’Angelo’s amazing music legacy will continue to live on through his superb recordings and videos of his soul-stirring performances. It will also live on through the many artists he has influenced and inspired. His music touched listeners in a very intimate, personal way that few artists can. He was truly a one-of-a-kind artist.
"Brown Sugar" video