Peabo Bryson, the acclaimed R&B vocalist whose soaring voice anchored some of the most memorable pop duets of the late 20th century, including Disney’s Oscar-winning themes from “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin,” died Tuesday. He was 75.
News of Bryson’s death came only days after representatives announced that he had suffered a stroke and was receiving medical treatment. Bryson had previously recovered from a mild heart attack in 2019 and remained active professionally, recently celebrating 50 years in the music industry through his Golden Touch tour.
Bryson passed away surrounded by loved ones just days after suffering a stroke, his family confirmed in a statement, writing: “We are tremendously moved by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends, and colleagues around the world. While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit. His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”
Born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1951, he began his professional career as a teenager, singing background vocals for local groups on the Chitlin’ Circuit before signing as a solo artist with Bang Records in 1976. A year later, he moved to Capitol Records, launching a prolific solo run that yielded iconic R&B hits such as “Reaching for the Sky,” “Feel the Fire,” and “I’m So into You.”
Bryson quickly established a reputation as an exceptional duet partner, collaborating with Natalie Cole on tracks like “Gimme Some Time” and recording the successful 1983 joint album Born to Love with Roberta Flack, which featured the hit “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love.” He also recorded the long-running theme song for the daytime drama One Life to Live, which served as the show’s main title track for seven years.
Throughout his career, Bryson released 20 studio albums and earned eight Grammy nominations.His historic work with Disney began in the early 1990s — in 1991, he paired with Céline Dion for the title track of Beauty and the Beast. The single became a massive international success, reaching the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 and winning both singers a Grammy Award. Bryson followed that achievement in 1992 by joining Regina Belle for the song “A Whole New World” for Disney’s Aladdin, becaming he first song from an animated film to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 —a distinction it held alone for three decades. The song also won a Grammy and an Academy Award.
Bryson is survived by his wife, Tanya Boniface, whom he married in 2010, and his two children, Linda and Robert.
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