Peabo Bryson, the R&B singer who brought his rich baritone to two of Disney’s most beloved Oscar-winning songs, died Tuesday at 75, days after being hospitalized with a stroke, his family confirmed in a statement.
“His voice carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration,” the family’s statement said. “His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”
Born and raised in South Carolina, Bryson began his career in the 1970s with the group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display before Atlanta label Bang Records signed him as a solo artist. He went on to record for Capitol, Elektra, and Columbia Records, building a reputation as one of R&B’s premier balladeers.
Bryson won two Grammy Awards and became the voice behind two of Disney’s most iconic soundtrack moments. His duet with Celine Dion, “Beauty and the Beast,” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1992. The following year, “A Whole New World,” his duet with Regina Belle from the animated film “Aladdin,” also won the Oscar.
Beyond his Disney work, Bryson became one of the music industry’s most sought-after duet partners. His collaboration with Roberta Flack, “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love,” became a defining love song of the 1980s. “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again” expanded his audience beyond R&B radio, and he later scored No. 1 R&B hits with “Show & Tell” and “Can You Stop the Rain.”
Bryson also collaborated with Natalie Cole and performed in stage productions including “Raisin,” “The Wiz,” and “Porgy and Bess.” In 2018, he released his 21st studio album, “Stand for Love,” produced by the hit-making duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
Comedian and television host Loni Love said she worked with Bryson on a cruise ship last year and recalled a late-night conversation on deck. “He shared incredible stories, spoke passionately about his music, and had such a deep love for his craft,” she wrote in a social media post Tuesday. “I am so grateful to have had that special moment with him.”
Bryson suffered a stroke in late May and was placed under medical care. He had made a full recovery after a heart attack in 2019. His family said memorial and celebration-of-life arrangements will be announced at a later date.