
Rockstar Games has paid heartfelt tribute to the legendary R&B vocalist D’Angelo, who tragically passed away from pancreatic cancer on October 14, at the young age of 51. Described as ‘a true titan of soul,’ Rockstar honored his contributions to their successful game soundtrack.
D’Angelo, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, was celebrated for his three seminal albums that spanned over three decades. He first gained recognition with the Grammy-nominated Brown Sugar in 1995, followed by the Grammy-winning Voodoo in 2000, and Black Messiah in 2014, which also earned him a Grammy.
His involvement with Red Dead Redemption 2 arose from his passionate fandom for the game. Rockstar’s director of music and audio, Ivan Pavlovich, recounted how D’Angelo would frequently visit their studios to play the game late into the night, leading to his request to contribute a song to the soundtrack. The resulting track, Unshaken, not only became a defining piece for the game but also charted at number six on Billboard’s R&B digital sales list.
In their tribute, Rockstar expressed their eternal gratitude, stating: “Rest In Peace D’Angelo, a true titan of soul. We are eternally grateful for his track ‘Unshaken,’ which will forever be an enduring part of the legacy of Red Dead Redemption 2.”