Soul Icon D'Angelo Dies at 51 After Pancreatic Cancer Fight

Renowned soul singer D'Angelo, best known for his smoldering hit "Untitled (How Does It Feel)," has passed away at the age of 51 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. According to a source, the Richmond-born artist, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, had been in the hospital for months before spending his final two weeks in hospice care, with his 27-year-old son Mike, Jr. by his side.

The loss is particularly devastating for Mike, Jr., who had already endured the unexpected death of his mother, R&B star Angie Stone, just a day after his birthday earlier this year. The source expressed deep concern for the young man, stating, "He's been through a lot in such a short amount of time."

Throughout his career, D'Angelo had struggled with his self-image and discomfort with being viewed as a "sex symbol" due to the success of his one-man NSFW music video for "Untitled." The source explained that the singer, who achieved widespread fame in the late 90s and early 2000s, "was naturally a bigger guy" and "never was comfortable being a sex symbol." This internal conflict plagued him, as he "didn't like people seeing him on his heavier side."

Despite his personal struggles, D'Angelo left an indelible mark on the music industry, earning multiple Grammy nominations and wins for his acclaimed albums "Brown Sugar" and "Voodoo." His passing is a profound loss for his family and legions of devoted fans.