D’Angelo, the legendary singer of R&B, who contributed to the development and configuration of Neo-Soul, died at the age of 51.
“The brilliant star of our family has extinguished his light for us in this life … After a prolonged and brave battle with cancer, with a heavy heart we announce that Michael d’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, left 20th.
We are sad that he can only leave favorite memories in his family, but we are eternal grateful for the legacy of the extremely moving music he leaves behind. We ask you to respect our privacy at this difficult time, but we invite you all to join us in mourning for his death, while celebrating the gift of the music he left the world, “the singer’s family told Variety.
D’Angelo was an enigmatic personality that shone under the spotlight – released three albums during his career, including Brown Sugar’s 1995 debut in 2000 and his latest album, “Black Messiah” in 2014.
He created a characteristic sound with “Brown Sugar”, combining classic R&B elements with influences from hip-hop, before developing a richer, soulful aesthetic for “Voodoo”.
D’Angelo, born as Michael Eugene Archer in South Richmond, Virginia, came into contact with music from a very young age, learning piano at the age of just three.
He won four Grammy Awards for his last two albums and was a critical figure in the arrival of the Neo-Soul era.