Michael Eugene Archer (born February 11, 1974), better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is a Grammy Award winning African American soul singer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, and record producer. D'Angelo is known for his production and songwriting talents as much as for his vocal abilities, and often draws comparisons to his influences, Marvin Gaye, and Prince. He has himself influenced the sound of modern R&B, particularly neo-soul. D'Angelo has a son named Michael by former girlfriend R&B singer Angie Stone. His first two studio albums, Brown Sugar and Voodoo, have garnered much commercial and critical acclaim, often being referred to by some critics as "two of the most excellent and singular R&B albums of the past 15 years". Rock critic Robert Christgau has dubbed him as "R&B Jesus".
He was born in Richmond, Virginia, the son of a Pentecostal preacher, and began performing as a young child. By his late teens he had signed a songwriting deal with EMI, and penned the hit song U Will Know on the "Jason's Lyric (soundtrack)". It was performed by Black Men United for the Jason's Lyric motion picture soundtrack.
