"The American R&B singer and songwriter D'Angelo, who has died aged 51 of pancreatic cancer, was a pioneer of what came to be known as neo-soul forward-looking music that incorporated elements of funk, jazz and hip-hop. Despite releasing just three albums over two decades from 1995 to 2014, he was influential well beyond the boundaries of the new musical style he helped to create,"
"D'Angelo was born Michael Archer in Richmond, Virginia, to Luther Archer, a Pentecostal minister, and his wife, Mariann (nee Smith). A talented pianist and singer from an early age, he learned his music in the church, and in his teens put himself on the map by winning three consecutive amateur talent night contests at the Apollo theatre in Harlem, New York."
D'Angelo pioneered neo-soul by blending funk, jazz and hip-hop into forward-looking R&B. He released three albums between 1995 and 2014: Brown Sugar, Voodoo and Black Messiah, achieving Top 40 singles in the UK and US including "Brown Sugar" and "Lady." Voodoo reached No 1 in the US and Black Messiah entered the Top 10; both albums won two Grammys each. Born Michael Archer in Richmond, Virginia, he learned piano and singing in the church and won three consecutive Apollo amateur talent contests. He wrote "U Will Know" for Black Men United and played on Lauryn Hill's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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