The R&B star passed away from cancer
Multi-award-winning singer-songwriter, producer, and R&B Icon, D’Angelo, passes away at the age of 51 after a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer.
“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.” shares the D’Angelo Estate.
“I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers during these very difficult times, as it has been a very rough and sad year for me. I ask that you please continue to keep me in your thoughts, as it will not be easy, but one thing that both my parents taught me was to be strong, and I intend to do just that,” adds Michael Archer, per Ra-Fael Blanco of The Blanco Agency.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, D’Angelo grew up in an entirely Pentecostal family, with his father being a preacher. His musical talents were evident from a young age. He began playing piano by ear at age three and later played in his father’s church.
In 1991, at age 17, he won the Amateur Night competition at Harlem’s Apollo Theater three consecutive times. He moved to New York City to pursue his music career and gained initial attention after co-writing and co-producing the 1994 single “U Will Know” for the R&B supergroup Black Men United.
His debut studio album, Brown Sugar, was released in 1995 as a critical success. It was certified platinum by the RIAA and is credited with ushering in the neo-soul genre. It featured the hit single “Lady.”
His highly anticipated second album, Voodoo, in 2000, debuted at No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. The album’s lead single, “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” earned him a Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, but the accompanying minimalist music video—which featured a shirtless D’Angelo—inadvertently established him as a sex symbol, a status he grew uncomfortable with.
Following the success of Voodoo, D’Angelo largely retreated from the public eye for over a decade, dealing with personal struggles, including drug and alcohol addiction, which resulted in a limited musical output.
He made his long-awaited return with his third album, Black Messiah in 2014, credited to D’Angelo and The Vanguard. The album, which arrived amid racial-justice protests, was met with widespread critical acclaim and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album.
