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R&B singer D'Angelo passes away at 51
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American R&B singer Michael Eugene Archer, better known as D'Angelo, has sadly passed away at the age of 51.
According to reports, his family confirmed that the acclaimed artist died "after a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer."
“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,”the family said in a statement released through RCA Records, D'Angelo's longtime label. "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 family requested privacy as they mourn, while also inviting fans to celebrate D'Angelo's life and music.
“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.”
RCA Records also issued a statement expressing their grief and admiration for the late artist.
“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.”
Fans and fellow musicians quickly took to social media to express their condolences and tributes. Among them were Doja Cat, Jennifer Hudson, and Tyler, the Creator, who honored the legacy of the neo-soul icon.
D'Angelo rose to fame in the mid-1990s as one of the defining voices of neo-soul, a genre blending soul, jazz, hip-hop, and R&B. His debut album, Brown Sugar, catapulted him into stardom, followed by hits such as "Lady," "Untitled (How Does it Feel)," "Unshaken," and "Send It On."
Before his debut, D'Angelo co-wrote the 1994 single "U Will Know," featured on the soundtrack of the film Jason's Lyric, which cracked the Top 10 of the R&B charts.
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