The music community is mourning a tragic loss.
D’Angelo—who became a Grammy winning singer and artist under the stage name—died on Oct. 14 following a battle with cancer, his loved ones confirmed. He was 51.
“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” his family shared in a statement obtained by NBC News. “We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.”
They added, “We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”
The passing of D’Angelo (whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer) comes five months after he had to cancel a performance at Philadelphia’s Roots Picnic festival in May.
At the time, in a statement shared by the festival on his behalf, D’Angelo shared the cancellation was “due to an unforeseen medical delay regarding surgery” he had earlier in the year, adding that he was advised by his “team of specialists that the performance […] could further complicate matters.”