R&B icon D'Angelo, whose retro sound epitomized the neo-soul movement of the mid-'90s, has died following a battle with cancer.

To all the listeners of R&B and neo-soul, D’Angelo’s death at 51 is not the death of a musician but the death of an era in a life symphony. His family referred to him as “the shining star of our family” whose light has been switched off after a “prolonged and courageous battle with cancer,

R&B and soul legend D’Angelo died Tuesday from pancreatic cancer. The singer, born Michael Archer, was 51.

Fellow musicians and stars are reacting to the death of neo-soul singer D'Angelo, who died after a private battle with pancreatic cancer.

D'Angelo's son Michael Archer II pays tribute to the late singer after he died at the age of 51 from pancreatic cancer. "It has been a very rough and sad year for me," Archer told PEOPLE.

D'Angelo performs during FYF Fest at L.A. Memorial Sports Arena & Exposition Park in Los Angeles, Aug. 23, 2015. (Rich Fury/Invision/AP, File) R&B singer D’Angelo died on Tuesday. He had pancreatic cancer and was just 51.