NEW YORK CITY, NY—On Tuesday, October 14, Rhythm and Blues great, Michael Eugene Archer, better known as, D’Angelo died of pancreatic cancer. He was 51. His family posted a heartfelt message on X.
“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. We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he 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.”
Regardless, music was in his soul. His brother, Luther, publicly told many that he came home from school one day to find D’Angelo playing a song on the piano. He wasn’t just “banging” he first told Rolling Stones, he could play, and he was only three years old.
D’Angelo wrote his own music that some musicians referred to as being part of the “Neo-Soul” movement. He was about 21 years old, when he co-wrote and co-produced his own single, “U Will Know” by his supergroup, Black Men United, in 1995.
Some of his other hits included: “Lady,” “Cruisin,” “Nothing Even Matters,” and “How Does It Feel.” His albums include Brown Sugar, Voodoo, and Black Messiah.
Reports indicate that 300,000 copies of Brown Sugar were sold in the first two months following its release in 1995. It spent 65 weeks on Billboard 200 and went platinum in 1996.
Voodoo was released in 2000. Music critics revered this album as, “A Masterpiece,” and calling it D’ Angelo’s “Greatest Work.” The album debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. 320,000 copies were sold in the first week.
D’Angelo and the Recording engineer, Russell Elvevado, earned a Grammy at the 43rd Grammy Awards for the best R and B album. The Executive Producer and Manager at the time was Dominique Trenier.
The album Black Messiah was released in December 2014. This was D’Angelo’s final album. 117,000 copies were sold in the U.S during the second week of sales. Several thousand more copies were sold in the UK.
Billboard named D’Angelo one of the greatest R and B artists. Rolling Stones magazine ranked him 75 on a list of 200 greatest singers of all time.
It was D’Angelo’s struggles with drugs and alcohol that prevented him from producing more. In recent months, the R and B great let it be known that his hope would be not to be remembered by the struggle, but by the gift of music that he gave to the world.
