R&B legend Peabo Bryson dies at age 75
Legendary R&B singer Peabo Bryson, known for songs including the Grammy-winning A Whole New World from Aladdin, passed away on Tuesday, according to a statement shared by his family.
“He transitioned peacefully at 5:00 pm ET on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him,” the statement indicated.
Born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, South Carolina, USA, the singer died less than a month after his 75th birthday.
His death follows news on Sunday that the singer had suffered a stroke.
Bryson’s career spanned decades from his start in group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display in the 1970s and his solo career not long after, which produced hits including Beauty and the Beast alongside Celine Dion, for the animated Disney film of the same name, and for which he won a Grammy.
He also voiced ballads Tonight, I Celebrate My Love; You’re Looking Like Love to Me; and As Long as There’s Christmas. Across his music career, he released over 20 albums.
His family expressed their thanks for the outpouring of well wishes shared by fans.
“For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments. His music carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration, creating a legacy that will forever live in the hearts of those who loved him and the countless lives he touched through song,” the statement said.
The 1992 duet A Whole New World with Regina Belle was the first song from an animated film to top the Billboard Hot 100.
Bryson began performing professionally as a teenager, singing backup with a local group called Al Freeman and the Upsetters, an outfit he described as “terrible” in a Soul interview. Freeman had trouble pronouncing Peapo, and Bryson began using the name Peabo instead.
Later, Bryson toured the Chitlin’ Circuit with Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display. Bang Records heard them perform and was impressed with Bryson. He released one album, Peabo, with the label in 1976 before moving to Capitol Records.
His first Top 10 hit on the R&B chart was 1978’s Reaching for the Sky. In 1979, Gimme Some Time, his duet with Natalie Cole, hit #8 on the chart, a preview of his duet success to come. They released What You Won’t Do for Love a year later, and it reached #16. Bryson also had a Top 20 hit with Minute by Minute, a cover of the Doobie Brothers song.
In 1980 he released his first duet with Flack, Make the World Stand Still. It hit #13 on the R&B chart. They would also release the duets Love Is a Waiting Game, You’re Lookin’ Like Love to Me, I Just Came Here to Dance, and their most successful, Tonight, I Celebrate My Love, which reached #16 on the Hot 100. They also released the 1983 duets album Born to Love.
Bryston suffered a heart attack in 2019 but made a full recovery.
He is survived by his wife and two children.
