D’Angelo, the Grammy-winning R&B singer, songwriter, and producer who helped define the neo-soul movement of the 1990s, has died at the age of 51 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his family announced on October 14 in a statement shared by RCA Records.
“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life,” the statement read. D’Angelo, born Michael Eugene Archer, rose to fame with his critically acclaimed albums 'Brown Sugar' (1995) and 'Voodoo' (2000), earning widespread praise for his soulful voice and musical innovation.
This year has seen the losses of many remarkable individuals, from celebrated actors and directors to musicians, athletes, authors, philanthropists, and even the head of the Catholic Church. Click through the following gallery to bid farewell to the famous figures who have passed away so far this year.