D’Angelo, who defined neo-soul movement, dies at 51

NEW YORK: Celebrated soul musician D’Angelo has died at the age of 51 after battling pancreatic cancer, several US media outlets reported Tuesday.

“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,” his family said in a statement to Variety.

D’Angelo was an acclaimed R&B singer and won plaudits for albums including his 1995 debut “Brown Sugar” and “Voodoo,” released in 2000.

“Such a sad loss to the passing of D’Angelo. We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D’ Love You KING,” DJ Premier wrote on X in tribute.

D’Angelo and DJ Premier collaborated on the 1998 single “Devil’s Pie.”

The musician’s passing was reported by People magazine and TMZ, among others.

A RECLUSIVE FIGURE

Music industry bible Pitchfork credited D’Angelo with helping to “define the neo-soul movement.”

Born Michael Eugene Archer in South Richmond, Virginia, D’Angelo was something of a recluse and only periodically surfaced to release music, most of which was received favorably by fans and critics.

D’Angelo embraced music at a young age, learning to play piano at the age of three and playing in the church alongside his father, who was a Pentecostal minister. 

Throughout his adolescence, he performed locally in groups including Three of a Kind, Michael Archer and Precise, and IDU.

In 2016, he featured on a playlist used by former US president Barack Obama, alongside other musical greats like pop superstar Janet Jackson, soul singer Janelle Monae and blues rocker Gary Clark Jr.