DJ Premier, who collaborated with D’Angelo on the 1998 track “Devil’s Pie,” shared a post via X on Oct. 14 lamenting the news.
“Such a sad loss to the passing of D’angelo. We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D’ Love You KING,” DJ Premier wrote.
The Richmond-born son of a Pentecostal minister began playing the piano at the age of 3, and by 5 years old D’Angelo was playing the instrument with his father at church. A few years later, he began playing the piano at his grandfather’s Pentecostal church.
Growing up, he and his two cousins formed the group Three of a Kind and began performing at local talent shows. By 16, he formed another band called Michael Archer and Precise with his brother, Luther.That year, D’Angelo landed a slot during Amateur Night at the Apollo, where he sang “Feel the Fire” by Peabo Bryson. While he didn’t win at the time, he returned to the stage the following year to perform “Rub You the Right Way” by Johnny Gill in 1991 and took the first place.With his monetary prize, he returned to Richmond, bought a four-track recorder and started writing what would become most of the songs that made up his 1995 debut album Brown Sugar. Brown Sugar peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Albums chart went platinum within a year of its release. It also earned D’Angelo four Grammy Award nominations.
