The music world is in mourning following the death of Grammy-winning R&B and neo-soul legend D’Angelo. The artist, born Michael Eugene Archer, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 51 after a “prolonged and courageous battle with cancer,” his family confirmed in a heartbreaking statement. Sources close to the singer later specified his illness was pancreatic cancer.
A Shaper of Neo-Soul
D’Angelo was widely revered as one of the most brilliant and influential artists of his generation. His debut album, “Brown Sugar” (1995), which blended classic soul, funk, and hip-hop, was instrumental in pioneering the neo-soul movement.
His sophomore masterpiece, “Voodoo” (2000), cemented his status as a musical savant, winning him two Grammy Awards and generating one of the most iconic music videos of the era for the hit single, “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”
After a lengthy and famously troubled hiatus, D’Angelo returned in 2014 with “Black Messiah,” a politically charged and critically acclaimed album that won the Grammy for Best R&B Album.
Despite a discography spanning only three studio albums over nearly 30 years, his meticulous artistry and deep, gospel-rooted vocal style influenced a generation of artists, including Frank Ocean and Anderson .Paak.8
Tributes Pour In
The news of his death sent shockwaves through the industry, with fans and fellow artists flooding social media with tributes.
- “Say it ain’t so, but we just lost a friend, a creator & legend, D’Angelo,” wrote funk icon Bootsy Collins on social media.
- Singer-songwriter Jill Scott praised him as a “GENIUS”, adding, “I never met D’Angelo, but I love him, respect him, and admire his gift. This loss HURTS!!”
- Tyler, the Creator, shared a lengthy, heartfelt post recalling how the album Voodoo helped shape his own “musical DNA”, calling D’Angelo “a true alien” and “savant”.
The family’s statement described him as “the shining star of our family [who] has dimmed his light for us in this life” and asked for privacy while inviting fans to “join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”
The passing comes just months after the death of soul singer Angie Stone, D’Angelo’s former partner and the mother of his eldest son, marking a year of immense loss for his family.
D’Angelo is survived by his three children.
