Peabo Bryson, R&B singer behind classic Disney duets, dies aged 75

Two-time Grammy winner was best known for songs from Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin

Peabo Bryson, the R&B singer best known as the voice behind the Oscar-winning Disney film duets Beauty and the Beast with Celine Dion, and A Whole New World with Regina Belle from Aladdin, has died. He was 75.

His family said in a statement that Bryson, who won two Grammy awards, died on Tuesday, days after having a stroke.

“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,” the family’s statement said. “His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”

In a statement on social media, Dion said she was “heartbroken” at the news: “His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance. He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded Beauty and the Beast.

“He made me so comfortable, as I was just learning to sing in English,” the singer continued. “He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life. His voice and his talent will be missed.”

Internationally celebrated for his Disney classics, Bryson also built a career over five decades as one of R&B’s premier balladeers, recording hits including Feel the Fire, I’m So Into You and Can You Stop the Rain.

“For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments,” the family’s statement said. “His music carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration.”

Born and raised in South Carolina, the singer, songwriter and balladeer launched his career with the group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display in the 1970s. Shortly afterward, the Atlanta label Bang Records signed him as a solo artist.

He recorded for Capitol, Elektra and Columbia Records and became one of music’s most-sought-after duet partners. Aside from Belle and Dion, he collaborated with artists including Roberta Flack and Natalie Cole.

His duet with Flack – Tonight, I Celebrate My Love – became one of the defining love songs of the 1980s, while If Ever You’re in My Arms Again helped expand his audience beyond R&B radio. He later scored No 1 R&B hits with Show & Tell and Can You Stop the Rain.

Beyond music, Bryson appeared in stage productions including Raisin, The Wiz, and Porgy and Bess. In 2018, he returned with Stand for Love, his 21st studio album, produced by the hit-making duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

Bryson had a stroke in late May and was placed under medical care.

“At this time, the family requests privacy as they navigate this deeply personal moment together,” a statement from his representative read at that time. “The thoughts, prayers and love of friends and fans are welcomed and deeply appreciated.”

In 2019, Bryson made a full recovery after having a heart attack.

The comedian and television host Loni Love said she worked with Bryson on a cruise ship last year and spoke with him for hours on the deck one night after she noticed him sitting alone.

“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 on Tuesday. “I am so grateful to have had that special moment with him.”

Bryson’s family said memorial and celebration-of-life arrangements will be announced at a later date.