American singer D’Angelo, neo-soul icon, dies at 51

Los Angeles (California, USA), 14 October (LaPresse/AP) – Mourning in the American music world. D’Angelo, neo-soul icon and winner of several Grammys, has died at the age of 51. The announcement was made by his family, who described him as “a shining star in our family, whose light has dimmed for us in this life”. The singer, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died after a battle with cancer. Musically, D’Angelo mixed hip-hop rhythms with intense soul in a sound that led to the birth of the neo-soul genre in the 1990s. In early 2025, D’Angelo celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut studio album, “Brown Sugar”, a platinum record that produced unforgettable hits such as “Lady” and the album’s title track. The album earned him numerous Grammy nominations and established him as one of the most original emerging voices in R&B. The Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance came five years later with the 2000 single “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”, whose minimalist video, shot with the singer shirtless, became a cultural reference point, sparking debates about art, sexuality and vulnerability in black male representation. The success of this song gave momentum to his second album, “Voodoo”, which topped the Billboard 200 chart and won the Grammy for Best R&B Album.