I don’t tend to share much work stuff and I hope you understand that this is not a self aggrandizing post. Via a strange set of circumstances I found myself managing Michael Archer (aka D’Angelo) for a year in 2019. Rewind to 2002, I was an out of work musician and I took a cash in hand job at a store in Camden Market to make ends meet. My co-workers and I would fight over what music to play, the two records we could agree on were “United” by Phoenix and “Voodoo”. Wow.. LIFE! It’s not often I’ve found myself in the presence of true generational, legendary greatness, but this was one of those times. He was in a troubled place and unfortunately I wasn’t able to do much to help him over the course of our time together. It seemed that the pressure of being D’Angelo was an overwhelming burden for him, fame and its trappings had left deep scars. I got the sense there was an inner battle happening btw the joy of expressing himself artistically and the self sabotage that comes with feeling unworthy on a deep level. It’s tough to see people torture themselves when you know deep down they could have the world if they’d allow themselves. One night at his place we ended up listening to music for a couple of hours. To my surprise it was mostly rock music - the Stooges, The Stones and QOTSA that got him excited. At one point he played an Al Green track and sang along at full volume.. and there it was - that voice! It was the one time I heard him turn it on in person and it was a memory that I will always treasure. When we stopped working together we also stopped communicating, but there was no bad blood. We’d just run our course. I have thought about him a lot in the last few days and it breaks my heart he never got to find the kind of happiness he deserved. I was a footnote in his story, but I appreciated getting the chance to try to help one of the all time greats. Being a manager is a funny amorphous job. For me there’s always an emotional connection to clients, even after we part ways. I wish I could have done more to be helpful to him, but I will be grateful to play a small part. Sending you love and peace wherever you are, Mike. 🖤
