51 Things You Didn’t Know About D’Angelo

The world is mourning the loss of D’Angelo, the legendary R&B singer who helped pioneer neo-soul. He died today, October 14, 2025, at the age of 51 after a courageous battle with cancer. Born Michael Eugene Archer, D’Angelo reshaped modern soul with his albums Brown Sugar, Voodoo, and Black Messiah. His influence stretched from church choirs in Virginia to studios that defined an entire era of sound. Here are 51 things you didn’t know about him.

  1. D’Angelo’s real name was Michael Eugene Archer.
  2. He was born on February 11, 1974, in South Richmond, Virginia.
  3. His father was a Pentecostal preacher, and he grew up in a Pentecostal household.
  4. He began playing piano at the age of three.
  5. His 10-year-old brother discovered his gift when he caught him playing piano as a toddler.
  6. D’Angelo performed music in church alongside his father during childhood.
  7. As a teenager, he played in groups such as Three of a Kind and Michael Archer and Precise.
  8. He was also part of the hip hop group Intelligent, Deadly but Unique (I.D.U.).
  9. At 18, he won Harlem’s famous Apollo Theater Amateur Night three times in a row.
  10. Those victories inspired him to fully commit to a career in music.
  11. He dropped out of school and moved to New York City to pursue his dream.
  12. He was discovered by Jocelyn Cooper, who signed him to Midnight Songs LLC.
  13. D’Angelo co-wrote and co-produced “U Will Know” for the R&B supergroup Black Men United.
  14. That song featured major artists including Usher, Boyz II Men, and Raphael Saadiq.
  15. His brother Luther Archer wrote the lyrics for “U Will Know.”
  16. The song peaked at #5 on the R&B chart and #28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
  17. He wrote and produced “Overjoyed” for the Boys Choir of Harlem in 1994.
  18. He signed a recording deal with EMI Records that same year.
  19. D’Angelo released his debut album Brown Sugar in July 1995.
  20. The album spent 65 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart.
  21. Brown Sugar was certified platinum by the RIAA in 1996.
  22. It helped define and popularize the neo-soul movement of the 1990s.
  23. “Lady,” one of the album’s singles, reached the Billboard Hot 100’s top ten.
  24. He collaborated with Lauryn Hill on “Nothing Even Matters” from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
  25. D’Angelo became close collaborators with The Roots’ drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson.
  26. Together, they co-created his groundbreaking second album Voodoo.
  27. Voodoo was recorded at New York’s legendary Electric Lady Studios.
  28. He worked with the Soulquarians collective, which included Questlove, J Dilla, and Roy Hargrove.
  29. Voodoo debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in 2000.
  30. The single “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” earned him a Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
  31. The album Voodoo won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
  32. Its music video for “Untitled” turned D’Angelo into an unexpected sex symbol.
  33. The video also led him to retreat from public life for nearly a decade.
  34. He struggled with alcoholism and personal challenges in the early 2000s.
  35. D’Angelo spent time in rehabilitation at the Crossroads Centre in Antigua.
  36. Despite difficulties, he continued to collaborate with artists like Snoop Dogg, Common, and Q-Tip.
  37. He released the compilation The Best So Far… in 2008.
  38. He began performing live again in Europe in 2012.
  39. D’Angelo released Black Messiah in December 2014.
  40. He rushed its release following the Ferguson and Eric Garner decisions.
  41. Black Messiah debuted at #5 on the Billboard 200 and received universal acclaim.
  42. The song “Really Love” won Best R&B Song at the Grammys.
  43. Black Messiah also won Best R&B Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
  44. He supported the album with The Second Coming Tour in 2015.
  45. That tour included 57 shows across Europe, Asia, and North America.
  46. He performed an emotional tribute to Prince on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in 2016.
  47. D’Angelo sang “Unshaken” for the Red Dead Redemption 2 video game soundtrack in 2018.
  48. He performed live at the Apollo Theater for a Verzuz special in 2021 titled D’Angelo vs Friends.
  49. He featured alongside Jay-Z on “I Want You Forever” from The Book of Clarence soundtrack in 2024.
  50. Rolling Stone ranked him #75 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time in 2023.
  51. D’Angelo is survived by three children, including one with singer Angie Stone.