Soul musician D'Angelo dies after private battle with pancreatic cancer, tributes pour in

American hitmaker D'Angelo, the neo-soul pioneer, is no more. The Grammy-winning R&B icon has died after his secret battle with pancreatic cancer. Born Michael Eugene Archer, he breathed his last in New York City on Tuesday, Oct. 14. He was 51.

D'Angelo, the acclaimed Grammy-winning singer, catapulted to stardom in the 1990s after the release of his albums.

In a statement, Angelo's family said,“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 14, 2025.”

The statement reads, via Variety, ‘’We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family,but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving musiche 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.”

People reported that the singer had been admitted to the hospital for months. "He was in hospice for two weeks but had been in the hospital for months," the source shares.

D'Angelo's remarkable career

D'Angelo, a revered figure who defined the Neo-Soul movement with his modern vision and traditional and contemporary influences. His debut album is often regarded as a landmark in the neo-soul genre.

Born in South Richmond, Virginia, in 1974, he started singing from a very young age. He started by writing lyrics for other singers, but quickly transitioned into the limelight with his talent and passion. He first gained recognition for co-producing the 1994 single "U Will Know" by the R&B group Black Men United. His 1995 debut “Brown Sugar,” 2000’s “Voodoo,” and, 2014’s “Black Messiah”, were all huge hits and earned classic status.

His debut studio album, Brown Sugar, was a huge hit and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Tributes pour in for D'Angelo

Soon after the news of the singer's death broke, tributes started pouring in. DJ Premier, who had worked with D'Angelo in 1998 for the single Devil's Pie.

In a post on X, he wrote,Such a sad loss to the passing of D'angelo. We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D' Love You KING."

American singer Missy Elliott wrote in a post,''Rest Peacefully D’Angelo No parent want to see their children go but it’s painful for children to see their parents go to so send prayers up for his son who also lost his mom this year for strength.''

Calling him one of the greatest artist, another user wrote,''RIP D’Angelo, don’t even know what to say. Three timeless albums, each one an incredible expansion of his sound—a peerless, flawless discography. It wouldn’t even be crazy to say he released the best album of the 90s, the 2000s, and the 2010s. One of our greatest artists.''