Grammy Winner D’Angelo Dies at 51 After Cancer Battle
The music industry is in a deep sorrow for the loss of D’Angelo, the singer who won a Grammy and died on Oct. 14 after a cancer fight. He was 51.
The family of the artist, in a very touching and sincere message to E! News, said: “The star that shined the brightest in our family has gone ahead and dimmed his light in this life for us. We are very sad that he can only leave us, the family, memories, but we are infinitely thankful for the legacy of music so emotionally powerful that he leaves behind.”
Family Dedicates Themselves to Remembering D’Angelo’s Legacy
During these hard moments, D’Angelo’s family requested to be left alone, but encouraged the followers to grieve his passing and commemorate the blessing of his music.
The artist was born as Michael Eugene Archer and died after only five months from his cancellation of a performance at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, which took place in May. The cancellation was because of “an unforeseen medical delay regarding surgery” that had occurred earlier in the year, and it was recommended by the doctors that he should not perform, as this could lead to the aggravation of his condition.
D’Angelo’s Message and Maxwell’s Tribute at Roots Picnic
D’Angelo lamented the fact that he could not be part of the show with The Roots, “Thanks a lot to my lovely fans who keep supporting me and I really thank you for your continued support.”
Maxwell had the chance to perform in D’Angelo’s place and he send good wishes to him when he said, “I wish him a very fast recovery. We thank him for the promise and the path that he brought to all of us in neo soul.”
D’Angelo’s Rise and Impact on Neo Soul
At age 17, D’Angelo’s journey to fame started when Midnight Songs LLC signed him immediately after listening to a demo that he rapped and produced in 1991. In 1994, his big break came about when he was a co-writer and co-producer of “U Will Know” for Black Men United, which was the ideal lead for his 1995 debut album Brown Sugar – an album that not only launched the neo soul movement but was also a significant cultural landmark. “Lady” was the only track from the album that reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100.D’Angelo has been a long-range and varied collaboration with artists like Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill in his career.The duet with Badu “Nothing Even Matters” was one of the tracks in Lauryn’s critically acclaimed album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
D’Angelo’s Iconic Hits and Personal Life
The 2000 single “How Does It Feel” by D’Angelo was a widely talked-about release, largely because of its suggestive music video. The Brown Sugar artist won his first Grammy in 2001 for Best R&B Album with Voodoo, an award he got again in 2016 for Black Messiah.
Among his personal life, D’Angelo was the father of son SwayvoTwain (Michael Archer Jr.) with the late Angie Stone, who was killed in a car accident earlier this year. He was also a father of daughter Imani Archer and son Morocco Archer from another relationship.
Fans and Peers Mourn D’Angelo’s Passing
After D’Angelo’s demise, a lot of tributes came from fans and the artists with whom he worked. DJ Premier in his X post wrote, “Very sad loss of the passing of D’Angelo. We shared so many great times. Will miss you a lot. Rest well D’ Love You KING.”
RCA Records called D’Angelo “a peerless visionary who seamlessly merged the timeless elements of soul, funk, gospel, R&B, and jazz with a hip-hop sensibility in the most effortless manner.” They also stated, “D’Angelo’s songwriting, musicianship, and distinctive vocal stylings have been and will be, a fountain of inspiration for artists of the coming generations.”
D’Angelo on His Lifelong Devotion to Music
D’Angelo regarded music as his entire life. During an Interview Magazine interview in 2013, he said, “I certainly consider myself to be within the music industry for the whole of my life—producing music, writing music. But, I don’t have a crystal ball.” I really have no clue what my tomorrow will be. To me, music is much more than just making videos and doing s—t like that… Music is really the core of my being. If you think about it, that is really what I am, ”
He also added, “It is my inner self, it is until the day I am no more.”
