In brief
Michael Eugene Archer, popularly known as D’Angelo, has tragically passed away at the age of 51. The Grammy-winning artist is celebrated for his pioneering contributions to neo-soul and is remembered for his emotive music style. His family reflects on his legacy and contributions to the music industry as they urge fans to celebrate his life through his music.
R&B award-winning singer Michael Eugene Archer, known to his fans as D’Angelo, died aged 51 after a battle with cancer, his family said in a statement.
His family said on Tuesday that the singer was leaving behind a legacy of extraordinarily moving music and asked fans to celebrate “the gift of song that he has left for the world”.
The influential singer was known for pioneering the genre of neo-soul, which blends R&B music with other genres including hip-hop and jazz.
His three albums won him four Grammy awards. The music video for his hit song, Untitled (How Does it Feel), gained mainstream attention after he performed in the one-shot video, naked, belting the song.
The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life, his family said in a statement obtained by CBS News, the BBC’s US news partner.
D’Angelo began his career as a songwriter and worked alongside big names in music like Lauryn Hill and The Roots.
He rose to fame in the 1990s with his debut album Brown Sugar. His song, Lady, from that album reached the No. 10 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in 1996.
That song earned him multiple Grammy nominations and secured his spot in the music scene.
