R&B legend D'Angelo has died, his family confirmed to CBS News on Tuesday. The singer, whose real name was Michael D'Angelo Archer, was 51 years old.
D'Angelo's family said the Grammy Award-winning artist died Tuesday after a “long and courageous battle with cancer.”
“We are sad that he can leave only cherished memories for his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind,” the family said.
His family asked for privacy and for his fans to “join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song he left to the world.”
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D'Angelo was born in Virginia and dropped out of high school as a teenager to try to break into the music industry. He first came to prominence after co-producing Black Men United's single “U Will Know” in 1994. He released his debut album, Brown Sugar, in 1995. The record went platinum.
D'Angelo's next album, Voodoo, was released in 2000. It won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, and the album's single won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. In 2014, he released his third album, Black Messiah. It won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, and a song from the album won the Award for Best R&B Song. It was also nominated for Record of the Year.
During his career, D'Angelo has collaborated with famous artists such as Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu and Jay-Z.
RCA Records called D'Angelo “a peerless visionary who effortlessly combined the classic sounds of soul, funk, gospel, R&B and jazz with a hip-hop sensibility” and a “renowned perfectionist” whose albums were “widely celebrated as masterpieces by both the music community and his beloved fans around the world.”
“D'Angelo's songwriting, musicianship and unmistakable vocal style have stood the test of time and will continue to inspire future generations of artists,” the company said. “Our hearts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
In May 2025, D'Angelo was scheduled to headline the Roots Picnic music festival in Philadelphia, but announced a week before his scheduled performance that he would no longer be able to do so due to an “unforeseen” delay related to a previous operation. IN statement released at the festivalD'Angelo said doctors advised him not to perform. D'Angelo did not specify what kind of surgery he underwent or what complications he experienced.
In his statement, D'Angelo indicated that he is working on new music.
D'Angelo is survived by three children: Imani, Michael and Morocco Archer. He has never been married.
