D’Angelo. Photo: Rob Verhorst/Redferns via Getty Images D’Angelo, the neo-soul icon known for albums including Brown Sugar and Black Messiah , is dead at 51 from pancreatic cancer. “The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” the R&B singer’s family said in a statement. “After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing