Multi-Award-Winning singer, songwriter, producer and R&B Icon, D’Angelo has passed away at the age of 51.
“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.” 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 thought me was to be strong, and I intend to do just that.” Michael Archer II
In 1995, D’Angelo’s star was on the rise around the world, with the exciting young R&B singer/songwriter hailed as the new sound of soul, a genius artist in the tradition of Stevie Wonder, Prince and Curtis Mayfield.
His Virgin Records debut, “Brown Sugar,” with its hit title song and smash cover of Smokey Robinson’s “Cruisin’,” proved the hype was to be believed.
D’Angelo followed his debut with “Voodoo,” released in 2000.
The extremely Prince-like lead single, “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” was a smash on the Billboard R&B charts and won a Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal, with the win for “Voodoo” for Best R&B Album.
In 1996, however, fans in Japan were treated to a six-track EP release, “Live At The Jazz Café, London.”
Recorded live on September 14, 1995, later released worldwide.
D’Angelo contributed a cover tune to a movie soundtrack, including Eddie Kendricks‘ “Girl You Need a Change of Mind” (Get on the Bus), the Ohio Players‘ “Heaven Must Be Like This” (Down in the Delta), and Prince‘s “She’s Always in My Hair” (Scream 2).
Not to mention the classic with Lauryn Hill on “Nothing Really Matters,” a cut from her Grammy-winning critically acclaimed “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
