The ESSENCE Music Festival headliner made his first U.S. appearance in 10 years at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival in Tennessee this morning, reports Billboard.
“I’ve been waiting 12 years to say this — ladies and gentlemen, D’Angelo!” Roots drummer Questlove announced to a packed house during the festival’s annual “Superjam,” which featured a two-hour jam session with veteran musicians like bassist Pino Palladino, percussionist Frank Knuckles and guitarist Jesse Johnson, who backed D’Angelo.
D’Angelo rotated between his keyboard and his guitar as he sang classics like Funkadelic’s “Hit It & Quit It,” and Jimi Hendrix’s “Have You Ever Been (to Electric Ladyland).” He did not perform any of his own songs.
The reclusive R&B singer’s only interaction with the crowd came at the end when he asked, “Do y’all wanna go home yet?” As expected, the crowd responded by asking for “One more song,” to which Questlove responded: “We don’t know any more songs. We crammed all those songs into, like, six hours (of rehearsal).”
D’Angelo is set to perform at the Essence Music Festival on July 6. Get your tickets now!