D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&B musician known for his gruff yet smooth vocals and for capturing popular attention with the shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video, died. He was 51.
The singer, born Michael Eugene Archer, died on Tuesday, according to a family statement.
The singer’s family announced in a statement Tuesday that he died from cancer. His family described him as a “shining star of our family who has dimmed his light for us in this life.”
D’Angelo’s music was a fusion of hip-hop grit, emphatic soul, and gospel-rooted emotion that helped lead the neo-soul movement of the 1990s.
Earlier this year, the Virginia native celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut studio album, “Brown Sugar,” a platinum-selling offering that produced signature hits like “Lady” and the title track.
The 1995 album earned him multiple Grammy nominations and cemented him as one of R&B’s most unique new voices.
D’Angelo’s sensuous vocal style, a combination of scratchy roughness and church-bred fluidity, distinguished him from his predecessors.
That voice became inextricably linked with the startling imagery of his 2000 single “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”
The minimalist, shirtless music video became a cultural icon, sparking discussions about artistry, sexuality, and vulnerability in Black male portrayal.
The song earned him a Grammy for best male R&B vocal performance, propelling his sophomore album, “Voodoo,” to the top of the Billboard 200 chart and earning the Grammy for best R&B album.
Beyond his own repertoire, D’Angelo’s brilliance shone through partnerships. He sang a memorable duet with Lauryn Hill on the soulful ballad “Nothing Even Matters,” which was a highlight of her groundbreaking 1998 album, “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.”
He also contributed to The Roots’ 1996 album “Illadelph Halflife” and was a member of the supergroup Black Men United, which released one song: “U Will Know,” which D’Angelo wrote and co-produced for the 1994 film “Jason’s Lyric.”
D’Angelo collaborated with Grammy-nominated R&B vocalist Angie Stone in the 1990s. The two met while he was finishing “Brown Sugar” and connected over their shared backgrounds: both are Southerners who grew up in churches. Stone collaborated on the record with D’Angelo, and the two co-wrote the song “Everyday” for her 1999 first album, “Black Diamond.”
In 1999, Stone referred to D’Angelo as her “musical soulmate,” saying their collaboration was “like milk and cereal.” Musically, it was magical. I’ve never been able to achieve this with another producer or musician.”
They had a kid together, the artist Swayvo Twain (born Michael Archer Jr.).
An automobile accident claimed Stone’s life earlier this year. She was 63.
D’Angelo also has a daughter named Imani Archer.
