Grammy award-winning R&B singer D’Angelo has died following a “extended and brave battle with most cancers,” his household mentioned in an announcement. He was 51.
“The shining star of our household has dimmed his gentle for us on this life,” in keeping with a household assertion. “After a chronic and brave battle with most cancers, we’re heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, identified to his followers world wide as D’Angelo, has been known as residence, departing this life in the present day.”
“We’re saddened that he can solely depart expensive reminiscences together with his household, however we’re eternally grateful for the legacy of terribly shifting music he leaves behind,” the household assertion added. “We ask that you just respect our privateness throughout this troublesome time however invite you all be part of us in mourning his passing whereas additionally celebrating the reward of music that he has left for the world.”
The Untitled (How Does It Really feel) singer, whose actual title was Michael Eugene Archer, celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of his debut studio album Brown Sugar earlier this yr. The platinum-selling album providing produced signature hits like Woman and the title observe. The 1995 album earned him a number of Grammy nominations and cemented him as one in all R&B’s most authentic new voices.
Many celebrities and followers took to social media to pay tribute to D’Angelo after information of his demise unfold.
D’Angelo’s sultry vocal model grew to become inseparable from the putting visuals of his 2000 single Untitled (How Does It Really feel). The minimalist, shirtless music video grew to become a cultural touchstone, igniting conversations round artistry, sexuality and vulnerability in Black male illustration.
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The music earned him a Grammy for finest male R&B vocal efficiency and propelled his sophomore album Voodoo. topping the Billboard 200 chart and successful the Grammy for finest R&B album.
Past his personal catalog, D’Angelo’s artistry shined in collaborations. He memorably duetted with Lauryn Hill on the soulful ballad Nothing Even Issues, a spotlight of her landmark 1998 album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. He additionally contributed to The Roots’ 1996 album Illadelph Halflife and was a part of the supergroup Black Males United, which yielded one music: U Will Know, which D’Angelo wrote and co-produced, for the movie Jason’s Lyric in 1994.
D’Angelo was partnered to Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone within the ’90s. The pair met whereas he was ending Brown Sugar and bonded over their comparable backgrounds: Each are from the South and each grew up within the church. Stone labored on the album with D’Angelo and the pair co-wrote the music On a regular basis for her 1999 debut album, Black Diamond.
He’s survived by his daughter, Imani Archer and two sons, Morocco Archer and Michael Archer Jr., also called Swayvo Twain.
— With information from The Related Press
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