Bringing the Brown Sugar Home An Interview with D'Angelo by Michael Dickinson

With a mix of sounds that finds '70's funk meeting '90's R&B, Michael D'Angelo Archer, better known as D'Angelo, has become what many would call an overnight success. It's a story of stardom that started in the southside of Richmond, Virginia.

That's why many Richmonders were excited recently when D'Angelo came home and performed his first concert in Richmond (at the historic Landmark Theater) since his debut disc, Brown Sugar, was nominated for three Grammys and won three Soul Train awards.

"It's good to be home. . . where my roots are. This is where I'm from and this is where I'm going to stay," the 22-year-old singer / songwriter says with certainty.

And since D'Angelo paid Richmond back by coming home, the City of Richmond responded by giving him something too his own day. The mayor officially proclaimed September 7th "D'Angelo Day." He thought the gesture was "wonderful. I just want to thank my family, friends and fans who made it happen."

Actually, the performer made the event happen for himself. Very few contemporary artists have been as successful in combining jazz, R&B and '70's soul and grafting it to a '90's style; a style that D'Angelo calls all his own. "Hip-Hop, really, is the source," he says. "It's what made me want to go back and listen to older music, looking for samples. (Hip-Hop) really initiated this old-school renaissance."

"Old-school" is a term mentioned a lot when music journalists discuss the impact of D'Angelo, who opens his live show with a rendition of Parliament's "Mothership Connection." His hit songs reflect this flavor "Brown Sugar," "Lady," "Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine," and the remake of Smokey Robinson's "Crusin'." In a way, he has taken the old, put an original twist on it, and made it seem new again. Watching a D'Angelo video, you might not be sure what time you are in. Unless, of course, you watch the video of "Lady" and see several Richmond landmarks serving as background, most noticeably the historic Byrd Theater.

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Singing hit songs is not all that D'Angelo does. On his album, he wrote, produced, sung and played everything himself. He also supplied the background vocals to each and every cut.

When D'Angelo was only three years old, he was mastering something else Playing piano and organ at his dad's Church Hill church. After attending Huguenot High School and participating in several city youth programs such as For Kids Sake and Impact on Youth, he as chosen (at age 16) to play New York's legendary Apollo Theater, winning the coveted Grand Prize three times in a row.

After signing with EMI Records in 1993, he got a first big break when his song, "U Will Know" was chosen for the Jason's Lyric soundtrack. D'Angelo and his brother, Luther Archer Jr., got the opportunity to work alongside many artists he personally admired-- musicians like Lenny Kravitz, Boyz II Men and Brian McKnight. The rest is history. "Hype is hype, you know what I'm sayin'? It's not really my concern if I've lived up to it (or not)," he says of those heady days leading up to his Platinum debut disc.

His newfound fame hasn't really affected his relationship with his family. Brothers Luther Jr. and Rodney Archer both work with him, the former helps to write the music and the latter is involved with D'Angelo's own production company, D'Lo Music.

After his Landmark Theater concert, and the festivities behind "D'Angelo Day," fans flocked backstage and gathered around the fence outside just hoping to get a glimpse. He hasn't really been caught up in the starry-eyed atmosphere, though. After the gig, he spent some time giving interviews, smiling for pictures, and making sure his parents and fans shared in the spotlight.

But what's next for "D"?

Well, he's now involved in producing. First, two songs for Mary J. Blige and then a record for Dirty Soulz, another Richmond connection. He also promises another album, due sometime this year.

In the midst of success, D'Angelo hasn't forgotten where he came from Richmond. "It feels great coming home a success," he says.

"You know. . . I brought the brown sugar home."