Michael D’Angelo Archer, born February 11, 1974 in Richmond, Virginia, died in New York at the age of 51. His name remains inseparable from the soul and R&B revival of the late 20th century.
His death was announced by a representative for the artist: “It is with deep sadness and great regret that I confirm the passing of Michael D’Angelo Archer. This is a monumental loss, not only for his family and loved ones, but for the millions of people around the world touched by his groundbreaking art.”
“D’Angelo was a genius, a force of nature whose music transformed the soul and R&B landscape. Most importantly, he was a beloved son, brother and friend whose absence leaves an immeasurable void.”
D’Angelo had grown up as a child prodigy: a singer since he was two and a half years old, he had made music his vocation since he was 15 years old. In 1995, their debut album, brown sugarHe had laid the foundations of the neo-soul movement thanks to his raw and expressive voice, revolutionizing the approach to contemporary R&B.
His arrival coincided with that of other innovative voices. Between 1997 and 1998, Erykah Badu with baduizmo and Lauryn Hill with Lauryn Hil’s bad educationThey had propelled neo-soul to unsuspected commercial visibility, forming an artistic trinity that redefined the contours of modern soul.
Voodoo, laboratory of a generation
His masterpiece, Voodoowas released in 2000 after recordings at Electric Lady Studios in New York. The album was the result of a unique collaboration: the Soul Quarters collective, founded by D’Angelo himself with drummer Questlove and producer J Dilla, brought together a constellation of artists including Erykah Badu, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, keyboardist James Poyser, Bilal, bassist Pino Palladino, as well as Q-Tip, Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Common.
Voodoo It was not simply an album: it was a laboratory where hip-hop, jazz, funk and soul interacted without hierarchies. In 2001, the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album rewarded this musical audacity. The project’s influence flowed both ways: D’Angelo was inspired by Q-Tip and Dilla, who in turn used the sound he shaped to explore their own artistic limits.
In the 2000s, D’Angelo gradually retreated from the spotlight. In December 2014 he reappeared with Black Messiah, under the name D’Angelo and the Vanguard. A return that confirmed his status as a master of neo-soul, winning three Grammy Awards: best R&B album, best R&B song for Really Love and best male R&B vocal performance for Untitled (How Does It Feel). In total, D’Angelo had received four Grammy Awards during his career.
Source: BFM TV
