Neo soul pioneer and celebrated musician D’Angelo, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died on Tuesday, October 14. D’Angelo was privately battling pancreatic cancer, and he was 51 at the time of his passing.
D’Angelo’s heartbroken family announced his passing, and since the news was announced, fans and celebrities have paid their respects with heartfelt statements on social media. Among those who have paid tribute are Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx, and John Legend.
John Legend Mourns D’Angelo
Legend shared a photo of D’Angelo on Instagram on October 15. In the caption, he penned a long message about the “Brown Sugar” musician and the impact his music had on the industry. Although he didn’t know him personally, he, too, was deeply affected by the loss of such a brilliant individual.
“I’m heartbroken to hear of the passing of one of our generation’s greatest artists, D’Angelo,” Legend wrote. “I remember 1995, when Brown Sugar came out and changed my life. I was just graduating high school and moved to Philadelphia to go to college. I bought my first stereo with a CD player (strictly cassette tapes and vinyl before that!), and my first 2 CD purchases were Brown Sugar and Mary J Blige’s classic My Life. I played both of these albums incessantly.”
He discussed D’Angelo’s debut and how it was “rooted in classic soul but also felt so fresh and different. It inspired me and my other musician friends so much. It helped me believe that there were different ways to be an R&B artist, ways to buck the norms of the mainstream. I’d try to imitate his smoky tone and smooth falsetto, the way he’d stack his backing vocals, the way he’d incorporate vintage keyboards and organs for his signature sound. The way he harkened back to our shared roots in the Black church.”
The Brilliance of D’Angelo
It was not just “Brown Sugar” that was meaningful to Legend, but also “Voodoo,” which he described as a “musical earthquake. So impactful and game-changing.” After another long break, D’Angelo returned, this time with “Black Messiah,” which Legend described as a “masterpiece.”
Legend ended his tribute by informing fans that he never “knew him personally,” but they had friends in common. Despite never meeting D’Angelo, the late star had an immense impact on Legend. “Through his music, he was an important part of my story. I just want to thank D’Angelo for being an inspiration in my life and in the lives of so many other artists,” Legend wrote. “I’m so upset that the world lost such a brilliant soul so early. But we will always have his bold, beautiful music. What a legacy of greatness he has left.”
I’LL NEVER FORGET D’ANGELO, HE WAS THE GREATEST, LOVE YOU D’ANGELO ❤️