Family, friends, industry colleagues and fans are still trying to process the untimely death of musical wunderkind D’Angelo. The Grammy-winning icon was laid to rest last weekend (Nov. 1) during a private homegoing service in Henrico, Virginia.

Among those grieving is Karen Taylor Bass. As the publicist behind the campaign for D’Angelo’s lightning-in-a-bottle debut album Brown Sugar, she witnessed first-hand the singer-songwriter-musician’s trailblazing ascent. Bass — an award-winning media strategist who now works in the corporate wellness arena as a certified 500 (AYT) Advance Yoga instructor — recalls the man who just wanted to play the music he loved… and how the industry failed him.

Meeting D’Angelo

I met D’Angelo when he was around 19. I was a publicist and excited to have my firs

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