D’Angelo rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with his debut album Brown Sugar (1995), which helped define the emerging neo-soul sound — a fusion of vintage soul, funk, gospel, and hip-hop influences.
American R&B and neo-soul singer D’Angelo, known for hits such as “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” and “Brown Sugar,” has died at the age of 51.
Family representatives confirmed on Tuesday, October 14, that the Grammy-winning musician, born Michael Eugene Archer, died at his home in New York City after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer.
In a statement released by his family, D’Angelo was described as “the shining star of our family whose light has dimmed too soon.” The statement added that he had been hospitalised for several months before spending his final weeks in hospice care.
D’Angelo rose to prominence in the mid-1990s with his debut album Brown Sugar (1995), which helped define the emerging neo-soul sound — a fusion of vintage soul, funk, gospel, and hip-hop influences.
His 2000 album Voodoo earned him two Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album, and is widely regarded as one of the most influential R&B records of its era.
After a lengthy hiatus marked by personal and legal struggles, D’Angelo made a celebrated return in 2014 with Black Messiah, an album praised for its political depth and artistic maturity. The project was hailed as both a comeback and a cultural statement, addressing themes of race, resistance, and self-expression in America.
Tributes have poured in from across the music industry, with artists and fans describing him as a visionary who reshaped the sound of modern R&B.
D’Angelo is survived by three children. The music world will remember him not only for his velvet voice and unmatched artistry, but for proving that soul could still be radical, vulnerable, and profoundly human.
