ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602090100
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ALBANY, N.Y.
SOURCE: NEKESA MUMBI MOODY ASSOCIATED PRESS
In an R&B world filled with sampled music, sexual cliches and copycat artists, D'Angelo has been hailed as something of a godsend.
The 21-year-old has won critical acclaim with the release of his debut album, ``Brown Sugar,'' which has sold more than 500,000 copies since its release earlier this year. He's also up for three Grammys, including best rhythm and blues singer.
But D'Angelo was the talk of the music industry even before the disc's release. As the co-writer of last year's hit ``U Will Know,'' recorded by a choir of more than 40 of today's hottest male R&B artists, the Richmond native was first pushed into the spotlight as an up-and-coming songwriter and producer.
``It's a buzz; I don't know [why]. It's hard to say. I think what it is that I'm doing is a little different so I guess people are ready for that change,'' he said.
But like most in the music business, Michael D'Angelo Archer's rise to the top has been no overnight success story. He began playing the piano at the age of 3, and by the time he was 4, he was playing at a church where his father was pastor.
``I did that a lot when I was growing up: playing in church, directing choirs, and things like that,'' he said. ``I had my own band, with my cousins, and my friends, and we toured all over the city.''
Before he reached 18, he went to New York City, where he and his band performed and won - three times - at the famed Apollo Theater's amateur showcase.
It was during that time that he wrote ``U Will Know,'' a soulful ballad about a young man's hopes and dreams that later was tapped by the producers of the movie ``Jason's Lyric'' for its soundtrack.
D'Angelo had planned to put it on his own debut album for EMI, but by the time he began recording it, the mood had changed.
``I wrote the song with my brother when I was 17... so by the time it came for me to record it on `Brown Sugar,' I kind of outgrew the song vocally,'' he said.
It also didn't fit with the mood of the album, a sexually charged, sensual collection of tunes in which the song would have been out of place.
The tune was recorded by dozens of today's hottest male singing acts, including Boyz II Men, R. Kelly, Gerald Levert and others. The success of ``U Will Know'' helped to create an enthusiasm for the later release of his album, which is more mature, but just as soulful.
Described by some critics as a welcome throwback to the 1970s, D'Angelo's music has a sound that stands out among most of his contemporaries. Instead of relying on machines for his music, D'Angelo's use of real instruments has been a refreshing break.
He either wrote or co-wrote every song on the album, with the exception of ``Cruisin'.'' He also played most of the instruments and produced the disc. With its jazzy tone and funky themes, it has appeal to both older and younger generations.
He knows it's a sound that many have been waiting for.
``I think for the most part, especially in the past couple of years, the R&B as a whole as far as artistically speaking, it was diminishing in its art form,'' he said. ``It was becoming more of a business thing, a black pop music thing, and I ain't tryin' to do no pop music, really.''
D'Angelo's distinctive sound has caught the ear of many other artists who have been clamoring to work with him. But for now, he has decided to make himself his top project.
``I've had to turn a lot of people down; not out of disrespect for them, but out of respect for them. I have to be like, `No, I can't do it right now.'
``Musically, I just want to take what I do to the next level,'' he said. ``I want to go as far as I can take it, you know?''
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: R&B artist D'Angelo: "I think what it is that I'm doingby CNBis a little different so I guess people are ready for that change."
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