Soul legend D’Angelo has passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 51 years old.
The “Brown Sugar” singer, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, had been undergoing “several months of treatment” when he passed away in New York City on Tuesday, a source told TMZ on Tuesday.
His family confirmed the news in a statement to Variety, saying, “Our family’s shining star has dimmed our light in this world.”
D’Angelo’s family said the hitmaker’s death “followed a long and courageous battle with cancer.”
“While we are saddened that he will only be left with cherished memories of his family, we are forever grateful for the extraordinary and inspiring musical legacy he left behind,” they added.
The “Lady” singer’s family requested privacy, but urged fans to pay their respects and “celebrate the gift of song he left to the world.”
DJ Premier, who is famous for collaborating with the Grammy Award winner on the 1998 song “Devil’s Pie,” also mourned his death through X, saying, “I’m really sad about D’Angelo’s death. We had so many great times.”
“I’ll miss you so much. Rest in peace, D’ Love You KING,” he added.
Coincidentally, D’Angelo’s ex-girlfriend from the 1990s, Angie Stone, also died in March at the age of 63 in a car accident.
The pair dated for four years and have a 27-year-old son, Michael Archer.
D’Angelo was also the father of a daughter, Imani Archer.
The up-and-coming musician took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo of himself and the patriarch playing guitar, along with three red heart emojis.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, D’Angelo’s passion for music was ignited by piano lessons at the age of three.
Throughout the “Lady” singer’s youth, he performed with local groups and rose to fame with the release of his debut album “Brown Sugar” in 1995.
He released his second album “Voodoo” in 2000 and won his first award for Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Performance for the song “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” at the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards.
In 2014, D’Angelo released his third and final album, Black Messiah, which won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 58th annual awards ceremony.
That same year, the “Send It On” singer also won the award for Best R&B Song for the album’s song “Really Love.”
D’Angelo was reportedly working on his fourth studio album up until his death, according to songwriter Rafael Saadiq, who frequently collaborated with the late singer, including on his 2002 song “Be Here.”
“D is in a good place right now,” Saadiq said on the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast last year, according to Us Weekly. “I’ve talked to him a few times. He’s excited.”
The “Ask of You” crooner revealed that D’Angelo was trying to convince fellow hitmaker to be on a few songs.
