D'Angelo

Q: Who influenced D'Angelo?

Marvin Gaye, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, Al Green. Each connection on MusicRoots cites a published source.

USA, 1995–2025

American singer and multi-instrumentalist (1974-2025, Michael Archer). Brown Sugar (1995) and Voodoo (2000) played soul at a deliberately dragging tempo, every part slightly behind the beat, and made the case that R&B could be a musician's music again.

MusicRoots documents 4 artists who influenced D'Angelo and 0 artists D'Angelo influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced D'Angelo?

Marvin Gaye — D'Angelo carried on directly from Marvin Gaye - the layered falsetto harmony and the sexual seriousness of Voodoo are built on What's Going On and Here, My Dear.
Prince — Prince is the other line D'Angelo continued: one man playing every instrument, funk written as private music.
Curtis Mayfield — Mayfield's high, light voice over hard rhythm is among the styles D'Angelo's records pay open homage to.
Al Green — Al Green's pleading Southern-soul tenor is one of the voices behind D'Angelo's.