Grammy-winning R&B singer D’Angelo, who is largely recognised for his raspy yet smooth voice and gained mainstream attention with the shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video, has died aged 51.
Born Michael Eugene Archer, the singer died after a long battle with cancer, according to a family statement.
The statement called him “a shining star of our family and has dimmed his light for us in this life”, adding that they are “eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinary moving music he leaves behind.”
In his music, D’Angelo blended hip-hop grit, emphatic soul and gospel-rooted emotion into a sound that helped spearhead the neo-soul movement of the 1990s.
Earlier this year, the Virginia native celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut studio album “Brown Sugar”, an album that went on to go platinum.
The 1995 album earned him several Grammy nominations and cemented his legacy as one of R&B’s most original new voices.
He later went on to win a Grammy after his second album, “Voodoo”, which topped the Billboard 200 chart.
Beyond his own catalogue, D’Angelo’s artistry shone in collaborations. He memorably duetted with Lauryn Hill on the soulful ballad “Nothing Even Matters,” a highlight of her landmark 1998 album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” He also contributed to The Roots’ 1996 album “Illadelph Halflife” and was part of the supergroup Black Men United, which yielded one song: “U Will Know,” which D’Angelo wrote and co-produced, for the film “Jason’s Lyric” in 1994.
Years before stepping back from public view, D’Angelo’s life and music were closely intertwined with Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone in the ’90s.
The pair met while he was finishing “Brown Sugar” and bonded over their shared Southern roots and deep church upbringing. Stone contributed to the album and later collaborated with him on “Everyday,” a song from her 1999 debut album, “Black Diamond.”
Stone once described D’Angelo as her “musical soul mate,” to the AP in 1999, adding that their working relationship was “’like milk and cereal …. Musically, it was magic. It’s something that I have not been able to do with any other producer or musician.” They had a son together, the artist Swayvo Twain, born Michael Archer Jr.
Stone died earlier this year in a car crash. She was 63.
D’Angelo also has a daughter, Imani Archer, who is also a music artist.
In May, D’Angelo withdrew from being a headliner for the 2025 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia due to “an unforeseen medical delay regarding surgery (he) had earlier this year,” the artists shared in a statement. D’Angelo said he was advised the performance “could further complicate matters.”
Beyond his biggest singles, D’Angelo’s catalogue includes fan favourites like “Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine,” “Cruisin’” and “Devil’s Pie.”
His influence stretched far beyond the charts: he inspired a wave of artists including Maxwell, Alicia Keys and Frank Ocean.
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