Remembering D’Angelo

• D’Angelo, the legendary and elusive R&B singer who helped pioneer the musical genre known as “Neo-Soul,” died Tuesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was only 51 years old.

D’Angelo’s family released this statement that reads, “The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life… After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025. We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”

Described in Variety‘s excellent coverage as “An elusive figure who burned bright in the spotlight,” D’Angelo released three albums throughout his career, including his 1995 debut, Brown Sugar, 2000’s Voodoo, and his most recent album, 2014’s Black Messiah with his group, The Vanguard. He won four Grammy Awards for his latter two records, and was a crucial figure in ushering the era of neo-soul.”

The AP noted, “With an idiosyncratic spirit not unlike Prince, D’Angelo’s devotion was always to the craft — not the machinery around it. In a 2000 interview with The Associated Press, he spoke candidly about the cost of chasing commercial success: ‘[Musicians] have gotten trapped into that mode of thinking marketable and commercial. That destroys art, that destroys the essence of what it is about,’ he said. ‘You cannot, you cannot work like that. You cannot make music like that. That’s not what this is about.'”

D’Angelo is survived by his son, Michael Archer II, 27, whose mother was R&B star Angie Stone, who tragically passed away on March 1 of this year. [Photo Credit: Mark Metcalfe / Getty Images]

• Benztown has made available an Audio Tribute to D’Angelo, voiced by James MacDaniel and written and produced by Thomas Green.