Beyonce leads tributes to 'music pioneer' D'Angelo
Beyonce and Jamie Foxx have led tributes to D'Angelo following his death aged 51, with the Single Ladies hitmaker describing him as a "pioneer of neo-soul" who "changed and transformed rhythm and blues forever".
Beyonce has led tributes to D'Angelo following his death aged 51.
The Brown Sugar singer - whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer - died on Tuesday (14.10.25) following a battle with cancer, and the Single Ladies hitmaker has remembered the late star for being a "pioneer of neo-soul" who "changed and transformed rhythm and blues forever".
She shared a black and white picture of D'Angelo and wrote on her official website: "Rest in peace, Michael Eugene Archer, known to the world of music as the inimitable D’Angelo.
"We thank you for your beautiful music, your voice, your proficiency on the piano, your artistry. You were the pioneer of neo-soul and that changed and transformed rhythm and blues forever. We will never forget you."
Beyonce's Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland also paid tribute to D'Angelo, admitting she was left "speechless" upon hearing of his passing.
She wrote on X: "This one hurts, DEEP! The way this man, poured himself in the music! The stories I’ve heard of his brilliant process...im just speechless...
He TRULY IS 1 of 1. Simply gutted by this loss!
May God Bless D’Angelo’s family and loved Ones.
We lost a GIANT. (sic)"
Several stars also shared lengthy Instagram tributes to the late music icon, including actor and singer Jamie Foxx and rapper and singer Tyler, The Creator.
D'Angelo's family confirmed his passing in a statement, admitting they were "saddened" by his death, but "eternally grateful" for his "legacy of extraordinarily moving music".
During his career, D'Angelo was credited for helping bring in the era of neo-soul and released three albums, 1995's Brown Sugar, 2000's Voodoo and his final record, 2014's Black Messiah with The Vanguard.
The signed to EMI in 1993 and wrote the hit song U Will Know for Black Men United (B.M.U.) before releasing his own debut record in July 1995 and paving the way for the likes of Maxwell and Erykah Badu.
D'Angelo - who also appeared on Lauryn Hill's acclaimed 1998 record The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill - spent much of his career working with Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson of The Roots, including on his pivotal second album.
Despite the huge success of the record, D'Angelo retreated from the spotlight for almost a decade, largely because he was uncomfortable at being portrayed as a sex symbol thanks to the shirtless video he filmed for the ballad Untitled (How Does It Feel).
He made a return in the early 2010s, touring Europe and performing occasionally with Questlove. He debuted new material during the live shows, which were featured on his final album in 2014.
D'Angelo won the Best R+B Album Grammy Award twice, for both Voodoo and Black Messiah, and also Best R'n'B Song for Really Love in 2016 and Best Male R'n'B Vocal Performance for Untitled (How Does It Feel).
The singer is survived by two sons and a daughter.
