One of the key stars of the 1990s neo-soul scene, D'Angelo took on classic
influences such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Al Green and updated them with
modern beats, a funk swagger and a smouldering, sexy aura that left his hordes
of female fans weak at the knees. Raised in a Pentocostal church in Virginia by
his minister father, Michael Archer grew up singing gospel songs and playing the
church organ before dropping out of school and moving to New York as an
18-year-old, where he won a series of talent shows at Harlem's Apollo Theatre.
Signed up by EMI, he took the stage nam...