The family of acclaimed R&B artist Michael D’Angelo Archer, professionally known as D’Angelo, has confirmed his passing at the age of 51 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. The four-time Grammy Award winner reportedly spent his final weeks in hospice care before his death on Tuesday.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, D’Angelo’s daughter, Imani Archer, paid tribute to her late father by sharing a photograph of herself seated beside him as he played the guitar. The 26-year-old captioned the post with three bandaged heart emojis, a simple yet powerful expression of loss and love.
D’Angelo is survived by his three children — Michael Archer Jr., 27, Imani Archer, 26, and Morocco Archer, 15. His eldest son, Michael Jr., also known by his stage name Swayvo Twain, is the child he shared with the late R&B singer Angie Stone, who tragically passed away in March 2025 at the age of 63 following a car accident.
A representative for the artist confirmed his passing in a statement shared with Daily Mail, saying:
“It is with profound sadness and the heaviest of hearts that I confirm the passing of Michael ‘D’Angelo’ Archer.”
In a separate statement to Variety, D’Angelo’s family reflected on his life and enduring influence, writing:
“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life. 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.”
The family further requested privacy during their period of mourning, adding:
“We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all to join us in celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”
D’Angelo’s eldest son, Swayvo Twain, also spoke publicly about his grief, noting that the loss of both parents within the span of a year has been “a very rough and sad” experience. He shared with People:
“I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers during these very difficult times. It will not be easy, but one thing that both my parents taught me was to be strong, and I intend to do just that.”
Renowned for his soulful voice and genre-defining contributions to neo-soul and R&B, D’Angelo’s illustrious career spanned decades. He won multiple Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album for Voodoo (2001) and Black Messiah (2016), as well as Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for (Untitled) How Does It Feel and Best R&B Song for Really Love.
His death marks the loss of one of the most influential and enigmatic figures in modern R&B music, leaving behind a legacy defined by artistic brilliance and emotional depth.#newsafro_
