R&B Icon D'Angelo Passes Away, Aged 51

American rhythm & blues musician, Michael Eugene Archer, best known under the stage name D’Angelo, passed away on Tuesday, 14 October. He was 51.

In a statement shared with Billboard, the Really Love singer’s family revealed that he’d died after a “prolonged and courageous” battle with cancer.

“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” the statement began. “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, Oct. 14, 2025.”

The statement continued, “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 [to] join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”

A family member also told People that D’Angelo was in hospice for two weeks, “but had been in the hospital for months” before he died from pancreatic cancer.

D’Angelo was recognised as a pioneer of neo-soul music, standing out by adding elements of hip-hop, jazz, gospel, traditional R&B, and funk to his songs.

His debut album, Brown Sugar, was released in 1995. His next album, Voodoo, dropped in 2000—winning the Grammy Awards for Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for Untitled (How Does It Feel).

Fourteen years later, D’Angelo released his long-awaited third album, Black Messiah, in 2014. The album won two Grammy Awards, and in a review for The Music, Sally Anne Hurley wrote, “The record sounds like one awesome jam session between the muso and his band, The Vanguard. It’s funky (Ain’t That Easy, Sugah Daddy), politically/socially charged (1,000 Deaths, The Charade) and really damn good.”

D'Angelo had been working on his fourth album with collaborator Raphael Saadiq before his passing. The album is reportedly planned for posthumous release.

D’Angelo last toured Australia in 2016, also performing at Bluesfest. At the time of his booking, Bluesfest Director Peter Noble said, “When Bluesfest confirmed Kendrick Lamar, we had the guy who produced the best record in hip-hop this year. Now, we have the guy who recorded the best current record in R&B: D’Angelo.

“We now have playing at Bluesfest, on the same stage and on the same night, the two most important innovators in rap and R&B today.”

Reviewing his performance at the Sydney Opera House in 2016, The Music’s Danielle O’Donohue declared, “In the Opera House’s 50-year history there’s been a lot of acts to grace the Concert Hall stage, but few can boast a show as hot as D’Angelo.”