by Jennifer Porter Gore

A trailblazer of neo-soul music and a bona fide sex symbol, D’Angelo was adored as much for his looks — his rippled physique was on display in the steamy “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” video — as his silky falsetto, ranked among the greatest voices of all time. Famous enough to have a mononym, he struggled with celebrity and vanished from public view for years at a time.

The acclaimed and influential musician, born Michael Eugene Archer, was in one such reclusive period when he died on Tuesday at the age of 51. The news stunned Black America and drew a flood of tributes from entertainment heavyweights, like Questlove, and celebrity music fans, such as former President Barack Obama.

But the headlines also revealed a tragic secret: D’Angelo had lost a private battle

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