Peabo Bryson, the acclaimed R&B singer known for his Grammy-winning duets on Disney classics, died at the age of 75. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026. He had been receiving medical care following a stroke earlier that week. Born Robert Peapo Bryson on April 13, 1951, in Greenville, South Carolina, he began his music career in the 1970s and became a defining voice in romantic ballads.
His solo hits included "Feel the Fire," "I'm So Into You," and "Can You Stop the Rain." He gained global fame for singing the title track of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" with Celine Dion, which won a Grammy in 1991. He earned a second Grammy for "A Whole New World," his 1992 duet with Regina Belle from Aladdin.
A family statement said, "For more than five decades, Peabo's extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life's most cherished moments." They added that his music brought comfort and inspiration across generations. The statement also expressed gratitude for the life he lived, while requesting privacy during mourning.
Comedian Loni Love recalled meeting Bryson recently on a cruise ship, where he spoke warmly about his music and shared stories with passion. He is survived by his wife, Tanya Boniface Bryson, their children, and grandchildren. Memorial arrangements will be announced later. Tributes poured in from fans and artists worldwide, celebrating a legacy that transcended genres and generations.
Peabo Bryson spent decades being celebrated for soothing love ballads while outliving many of the era's R&B icons. His final days were marked by quiet medical care, not public fanfare, despite a career that soundtracked global milestones. The man who gave voice to Disney's most enduring romances leaves behind a silence no duet can fill. For Nigerian fans who grew up with his songs at weddings and on slow-dance playlists, his death marks the end of a shared emotional soundtrack.
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