Grammy-winning soul musician D’Angelo dead at 51 after cancer battle
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D’Angelo was an acclaimed R&B singer and won plaudits for albums including his 1995 debut Brown Sugar and 2000's Voodoo.
PHOTO: CHAD BATKA/NYTIMES
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NEW YORK – Celebrated American soul musician D’Angelo has died at the age of 51 after battling pancreatic cancer, several US media outlets reported on Oct 14.
“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” his family said in a statement to trade publication Variety. “After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that (he) has been called home.”
A family member told People magazine that D’Angelo had been in hospice for two weeks, and had been hospitalised for months.
He won plaudits for albums including his 1995 debut Brown Sugar and Voodoo, released in 2000.
The R&B icon and neo-soul pioneer melded genres and opened doors as he stretched the boundaries of black pop traditions while producing sensuous hits including Brown Sugar (1995) and Untitled (How Does It Feel) (2000).
The risque, shirtless music video for the latter track catapulted D’Angelo to superstardom, though the artiste struggled with the weight of his new-found pop culture fame and sex symbol status – a title he largely rebuffed, instead often saying he preferred to focus on his music.
Untitled (How Does It Feel) also won him the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Voodoo was named Best R&B Album.
But D’Angelo, the son of a Pentecostal minister who sometimes described his art in spiritual terms, grew uncomfortable with being pigeonholed as a heart-throb. After a breakdown on tour, he fell into depression and struggled with alcohol and drug abuse before going to rehab.
D’Angelo, who never married, died seven months after the passing of his former girlfriend, American singer Angie Stone, with whom he had a 27-year-old son. He is survived by two other children aged 26 and 15.
“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 record producer DJ Premier wrote on X in tribute. The pair collaborated on the 1998 single Devil’s Pie.
American rapper Doja Cat described D’Angelo as “a true voice of soul and inspiration to many brilliant artistes of our generation and generations to come”.
Born Michael Eugene Archer in Virginia, he was something of a recluse and surfaced only periodically to release music, most of which was received favourably by fans and critics.
In 2016, he featured on a playlist used by former US president Barack Obama, alongside other musical greats like pop star Janet Jackson, soul singer Janelle Monae and blues rocker Gary Clark Jr.
D’Angelo had been working on his fourth album with American singer Raphael Saadiq, which is now planned to be released posthumously. AFP, REUTERS
