“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”: D’Angelo, legendary, boundary-pushing R&B singer/songwriter, dies at 51

D'Angelo performs onstage at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands on July 8, 2012.

D'Angelo, an icon of R&B who helped shape that genre – and popular music – in the 21st century, has died at the age of 51, the New York Times is reporting.

In a statement shared to Variety, the singer/songwriter's family confirmed that he succumbed to cancer.