Long before the world knew his name, Michael Eugene Archer was a prodigy at a small church in Richmond, Virginia. By age 3, he was tinkering with the piano, and at 5, he was performing alongside his father in their Pentecostal congregation. Those early melodies became the foundation of a lifelong passion, later nurtured at his grandfather’s church. Music was his first language.

Tragically, the world lost this neo-soul pioneer on Tuesday, Oct. 14, when D’Angelo passed away at the age of 51 following a battle with pancreatic cancer, PEOPLE confirmed. The Richmond-born icon spent months hospitalized before moving to hospice care, where he spent his final two weeks surrounded by loved ones.

Among the countless tributes pouring in, NFL star Russell Wilson took a quiet pause from his football grind to pay respect to the late legend. Known more for his leadership on the field than his music tastes, Wilson’s heartfelt acknowledgment revealed a softer, more personal side. Wilson posted an Instagram story featuring the singer’s song “Cruisin’,” quoting lyrics from the song: “Glad you’re going my way” and “I love it when we’re cruisin’ together.” The caption read, “D’Angelo RIP. Richmond VA Legend.”

His wife, Ciara, who shares deep roots in R&B herself, also expressed her sorrow online, writing “Grateful to have witnessed your beautiful Artistry Rest Easy D’Angelo 🕊️” In a statement, D’Angelo’s family said the star left behind “a legacy of extraordinarily moving music,” urging fans to celebrate “the gift of song that he has left for the world.”

As a young teen, D’Angelo, along with two cousins, formed a group called Three of a Kind, performing at local talent shows. By 16, he had created Michael Archer and Precise with his brother Luther, a steppingstone that eventually led him to win Amateur Night at the Apollo, earning a $500 prize and a four-track recorder.

Yet success came with pressure. D’Angelo often wrestled with the expectations that accompanied his genius, taking time away from the spotlight and confronting writer’s block between projects. It wasn’t until 2000 that he released Voodoo, a landmark album recorded with the Soulquarians at Electric Lady Studios.

Throughout his career, he collaborated with an array of artists, including Questlove, Common, Q-Tip, J Dilla, Lauryn Hill, Raphael Saadiq, and Angie Stone, leaving an indelible mark on modern music. His music video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” remains iconic, a testament to his ability to convey raw emotion and artistry in every frame.

Tributes have poured in from music legends including Beyoncé, Nile Rodgers, Lauryn Hill, Doja Cat, Missy Elliott, Jill Scott, and Jennifer Hudson, all celebrating the man whose artistry transcended generations.

D’Angelo’s journey to a four-time Grammy-winning neo-soul pioneer was marked by brilliance, vulnerability, and innovation. Even in his absence, the music and the soul he poured into the world continue to resonate, leaving an enduring imprint that will never fade.

After Russell Wilson, Beyoncé and Lauryn Hill honor D’Angelo’s timeless legacy

Beyoncé, Nile Rodgers, and Lauryn Hill each paid their respects, reflecting the immense impact D’Angelo had on artists spanning multiple generations and genres.

Beyoncé shared a heartfelt message on her website, thanking the late legend for reshaping modern R&B. “You were the pioneer of neo-soul, and that changed and transformed rhythm and blues forever,” she wrote. “We will never forget you.”

Guitarist and producer Nile Rodgers also recalled his first meeting with D’Angelo, remembering how he urged the young artist to release his music as it was. Calling it “perfect.” “About a year later I heard one of those songs on the radio,” Rodgers wrote. “It was genius and it was exactly what he had played for me. I know… I still have the original cassette.”

Lauryn Hill, who collaborated with D’Angelo early in his career, shared a moving reflection that captured the emotional depth of his artistry: “Your beauty and talent were not of this world. You embodied a unity of strength and sensitivity in Black manhood to a generation that only saw itself as having to be one or the other.”

The outpouring of love extended across genres—from Doja Cat and Missy Elliott to Jill Scott and Jennifer Hudson, each paying tribute to the man who gave soul music a new language.

Before his passing, D’Angelo had been back in the studio with longtime collaborator Raphael Saadiq, quietly crafting what would have been his fourth studio album. A project that now lingers as one final echo of his unmatched genius.