In 1974, Richmond gave the world a musical icon. Michael Eugene Archer, known to the world as D’Angelo, was raised in Richmond’s Southside in a deeply musical Pentecostal family surrounded by the rich cultural and musical landscape. Both his father and grandfather were preachers, and by the age of three, his extraordinary musical gifts were already apparent.
As a teenager, D’Angelo began crafting the sound that would transform contemporary R&B. His landmark 1995 debut, Brown Sugar, arrived like a musical thunderbolt, helping define the emerging neo-soul movement and cementing one of Richmond’s own in the American musical canon. Over the decades that followed, his singular sound—rooted in gospel and drawing from soul, funk, R&B, and hip-hop—would influence generations of musicians.
D’Angelo passed away on October 14, 2025. At the 2026 Richmond Folk Festival, Richmond musicians who influenced his sound, performed alongside him, or were themselves shaped by his music come together to celebrate one of the city’s most consequential artists—honoring the Richmond roots that shaped him and reflecting on the extraordinary impact of the music he gave the world.
Helmed by Randall Cort, a National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellow and acclaimed drummer for internationally known gospel group, The Legendary Ingramettes, and Grammy Award-winning collaborator and vocalist Kia Bennett, the evening brings together a who’s-who of Richmond musicians whose lives and careers are deeply connected to D’Angelo and his music. The lineup features the show’s Creative Director, Virginia State University Professor of Music Business Bill McGee, who served as D’Angelo’s musical mentor during his formative years, as well as Virginia Union University alumnus and the show’s Musical Director Carl Lester. They are joined by a powerhouse ensemble of Richmond’s finest musicians and vocalists led by JayWhit and B. Musiq to name a few.
Expect beloved hits and deep cuts, along with stories and memories shared through music by those who knew, worked with, and helped shape one of Richmond’s most influential musical artists.