D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&B singer recognised by his raspy yet smooth voice and for garnering mainstream attention with the shirtless “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” music video, has died. He was 51.
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The singer, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died on Tuesday, according to a statement from the family.
The singer’s family confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that he died after a prolonged battle with cancer.
They called him “a shining star of our family and has dimmed his light for us in this life”, adding that they are “eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind”.
In his music, D’Angelo blended hip-hop grit, emphatic soul and gospel-rooted emotion into a sound that helped spearhead the neo-soul movement of the 1990s.
Earlier this year, the Virginia native celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut studio album Brown Sugar, a platinum-selling offering that produced signature hits like “Lady” and the title track.