D'Angelo: Neo-Soul Pioneer Dies at 51 After Battling Cancer

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Michael Eugene Archer, widely known by his stage name d'Angelo, a legendary R&B musician and pioneer of the neo-soul genre, has passed away at the age of 51.

The star's passing was confirmed on October 14, 2025, leaving fans and the global music industry deeply saddened.

The singer, born on February 11, 1974, passed away at his home in New York City after a long, private battle with pancreatic cancer.

D'Angelo's family confirmed the sad news.

“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” his family said in a statement provided to CNN by RCA, his longtime record company.

“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,” the statement added.

“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.”

The sound. The spirit. The soul. D’Angelo’s music will echo forever, and his legacy will never fade.📸: Thierry LeGoues pic.twitter.com/Q76FZOVbds

— Spotify (@Spotify) October 14, 2025

RCA also released a statement saying they were “deeply saddened” by his passing.

“He was a peerless visionary who effortlessly blended the classic sounds of soul, funk, gospel, R&B, and jazz with a hip hop sensibility,” the statement read.

“D’Angelo’s songwriting, musicianship and unmistakable vocal styling has endured and will continue to inspire generations of artists to come.”

D'Angelo, stage name Michael Eugene Archer, passed away on October 14, 2025, at the age of 51.

His passing happened in New York City, where he spent his final years after battling illness.

The cause of D'Angelo's death was pancreatic cancer, which he had battled in a long and arduous personal battle.

Sources close to him stated that he had been hospitalized for months, with the last two weeks spent in the hospital.

Prior to D'Angelo's passing, his eldest son's mother, soul singer Angie Stone, also died earlier this year in a car accident.

D'Angelo was working on his fourth album with Raphael Saadiq, which is now scheduled for posthumous release. 

Michael Eugene Archer was born in Richmond, Virginia, on February 11, 1974, and raised in a devout Pentecostal family, with his father as a pastor.

His musical talent seen when he play the piano at the age of three.

At the age of 16, D'Angelo's musical abilities were further recognized after winning the Amateur Night contest at the Apollo Theater in Harlem for three consecutive nights.

D'Angelo landed his first music contract in 1993, and in 1994, he released his first hit song, "U Will Know."

His debut album, Brown Sugar, released in 1995, went platinum and significantly helped pioneer the neo-soul style.

This album laid the foundation for d'angelo's unique sound, blending soul, funk, and jazz with influences from musicians like Sly Stone, Jimi Hendrix, and Prince.

D'angelo's debut album, Brown Sugar (1995), not only went platinum but also sold over 2 million copies, spawning two iconic hit singles: "Lady" and the title track "Brown Sugar."

His success continued with his 2000 album, Voodoo, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200.

The album also earned two Grammy Awards, including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" and Best R&B Album.

After a lengthy hiatus, d'angelo returned in 2014 with his third album, Black Messiah.

The album also received critical and commercial acclaim, winning Best R&B Album at the 58th Grammy Awards, while the single "Really Love" won Best R&B Song.

Throughout his career, d'angelo has won a total of four Grammy Awards.

In his personal life, d'angelo never married, but he has three children.

In the 1990s, he was in a relationship with soul singer Angie Stone, and they had a son, Michael Archer Jr., born in 1998.

He also has a daughter, Imani Archer, born in 1999, and another son, born in 2010.

D'Angelo even made hiatus from public appearances for over a decade before returning with Black Messiah.

Billboard named him one of the greatest R&B artists, while Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 75 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.