R&B Soul Singer and Grammy Winner D’Angelo Dies at 51

D’Angelo died on Oct. 14 in New York City after a long and private battle with cancer.

D'Angelo performs during FYF Fest at L.A. Memorial Sports Arena & Exposition Park in Los Angeles on Aug. 23, 2015. Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File

Grammy-award winning artist Michael Eugene Archer, otherwise known as D’Angelo, has died at age 51.

The R&B soul singer died on Oct. 14 in New York City, following a lengthy and private battle with cancer.

His longtime record company, RCA, confirmed the news of his passing on social media, referring to D’Angelo as a talented “known perfectionist” who was celebrated by the music community and fans across the globe.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of D’Angelo,” read the statement on Instagram.

“He was a peerless visionary who effortlessly blended the classic sounds of soul, funk, gospel, R&B, and jazz with a hip hop sensibility.”

“D’Angelo’s songwriting, musicianship, and unmistakable vocal styling has endured and will continue to inspire generations of artists to come. Our hearts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

D’Angelo was best known for his neo-soul style of music, blending together contemporary R&B, soul, and gospel blues, spearheading the genre’s movement of the 1990s.

“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” his family said in a statement. “We are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.”

He is survived by three children, Imani, Michael, and Morocco Archer.

In May, D’Angelo pulled out of his performance for the 2025 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, due to “an unforeseen medical delay” he had from surgery earlier in the year.

Born 1974, in Richmond, Virginia, D’Angelo rose to fame in 1995 with his debut solo album “Brown Sugar,” earning him multiple Grammy nominations and cementing his name in the industry.

The album produced charting singles, including “Cruisin'” and “Lady,” which hit the No. 10 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1996.

He took a five-year hiatus before stepping back into the scene in 2000 with the release of his sophomore album “Voodoo,” topping the Billboard 200 chart and featuring the hit single “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”

As a result, D’Angelo won his first two Grammy awards for Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Performance. His 2014 album “Black Messiah,” a politically charged piece prompted by nationwide protests at the time, also went on to earn the Grammy for best R&B album two years after its release.

Other fan favorite songs include “Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine” and “Devil’s Pie.”

D’Angelo’s musical quest began at age 18, when he made the move to New York City and won the “Showtime at the Apollo” amateur night competition at the Apollo Theater for three weeks in a row.

Beyond music, he was recognized for his philanthropic efforts, which included donating portions of funds raised from his “Voodoo II” tour in 2000 to the Magic Johnson Foundation. The move helped raise money for scholarships and financial aid for qualified minority students.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.