Grammy-winning R&B icon Peabo Bryson dead at 75
Disney star and R&B singer Peabo Bryson, whose voice can be heard on Disney classics such as ‘A Whole New World’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’, has died aged 75.
Bryson passed away on June 2nd, surrounded by his loved ones, following a stroke over the weekend. He had been receiving medical care, but the exact cause of death has not been revealed.
“For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments,” his family said in the statement.
The statement added, “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.”
Bryson won two Grammy Awards in the 1990s, the first for his duet with Celine Dion on the 1992 hit ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and the second for his duet with Regina Belle on the soaring ballad ‘A Whole New World’ from the animated film Aladdin.
The latter became the first song from an animated film to reach the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100.
In their heartfelt statement, his family added, “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.”
Bryson sang on hits from the 1970s to the 2010s, including ‘Feel the Fire’, ‘I’m So Into You’, ‘Reaching for the Sky’, and ‘If Ever You’re In My Arms Again’.
The musician was born in Greenville, South Caroline, in 1951. He reminisced to Soul magazine in 1978, “As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been into music.”
He first began professionally singing as a backup with a local group named Al Freeman and the Upsetters. He eventually released one album with Bang Records in 1976 before moving on to Capitol Records.
Discussing his eventual number one hit, Bryson once explained beautifully of ‘A Whole New World’, Bryson added, “It’s a song that represents every hope and every promise that you will ever have. I sang it in South Africa for the first time they allowed Black South Africans to enter into the Miss South Africa beauty pageant.”
The star had a heart attack in 2019 but made a full recovery.
He is survived by his wife and children.
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