Peabo Bryson died Tuesday evening at 5:00 p.m. ET. He was 75.
"With broken hearts and profound sadness, the family of two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and balladeer, Peabo Bryson, announces his passing," a statement from Bryson's family reads, adding: "He transitioned peacefully at 5:00 p.m. ET on the evening of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him."
According to Deadline, Bryson had suffered a stroke days before his death. His rep confirmed the news to Billboard.
Bryson was born Robert Peopo Bryson on April 13, 1951, in Greenville, South Carolina. He launched his music career with his 1976 debut album Peabo, and the following year signed with Capitol Records with the release of Reaching for the Sky. Over a decades-long career, he recorded 20 solo albums from 1976 to 2018, including a half-dozen that hit the Top 10 on Billboard's R&B Albums chart.
He is best remembered by many listeners for two back-to-back Disney theme songs. He recorded Beauty and the Beast with a then-23-year-old Celine Dion, reaching No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992. The following year, his recording of A Whole New World with Regina Belle topped the Billboard Hot 100. Both songs won Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals in consecutive years, 1993 and 1994. Beauty and the Beast was also nominated for Record of the Year.
On Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Bryson placed 41 hits spanning 1976 to 1993, including 10 top 10s. Two of those reached No. 1: Show and Tell in 1989 and Can You Stop the Rain in 1991. He placed 12 hits total on the Billboard Hot 100, starting with Lovers After All, his 1981 duet with Melissa Manchester.
In 1983, Bryson and Roberta Flack released the duets album Born to Love, which produced Tonight, I Celebrate My Love, a Top 5 R&B and Adult Contemporary hit that reached the pop Top 20. He also teamed with Kenny G for By the Time This Night Is Over, a track on Kenny G's 1993 album Breathless, which has sold more than 12 million copies in the United States alone. Bryson finished his career with five gold albums, including three in a row from 1978 to 1979.
In 1985, Bryson appeared on One Life to Live, where he sang a lyrical version of the classic theme song. One of the last posts on his social media accounts was an April carousel of family photos celebrating his 75th birthday. "This is 75!!," the photos are captioned. "Thank you for all my well wishes," he added with a heart-hands emoji.
His family released a second statement in the days following his death. "We are tremendously moved by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends, and colleagues around the world," Bryson's family said. "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. His legacy and music will live on for generations to come."
