Legendary R&B singer Michael D’Angelo Archer, known simply as D’Angelo, has passed away after a "prolonged and courageous battle with cancer."
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His family confirmed the news in a heartbreaking statement, asking for privacy but inviting fans to mourn his passing while celebrating his "legacy of extraordinarily moving music."
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D'Angelo is best known for the masterpiece "Untitled (How Does It Feel)," the hit off his 2000 album Voodoo that earned him a Grammy.
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With his 1995 debut Brown Sugar, D'Angelo helped pioneer the Neo-Soul movement, fusing classic R&B and funk with contemporary hip-hop beats.
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His second album, Voodoo, was a cornerstone of modern R&B, created alongside a collective of giants known as The Soulquarians, including Questlove and J Dilla.
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Tributes from the music world are flooding social media. Producer DJ Premier wrote: "Such a sad loss... Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D' Love You KING."
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Despite an elusive career, D'Angelo released three albums that are considered classics: Brown Sugar (1995), Voodoo (2000), and the Grammy-winning Black Messiah (2014).
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Born Michael Eugene Archer in Richmond, VA, he learned piano at age three, playing in his father's Pentecostal church. That gospel root became the foundation of his unique sound.
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The success of Voodoo and the "Untitled" video made him an accidental sex symbol, a label he wrestled with publicly. He would often retreat from the spotlight, letting his music speak for itself.
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From "Lady" to "Cruisin'" and "Black Messiah," D'Angelo's soulful spirit will live on through the music that changed a generation.
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