Peabo Bryson, the two-time Grammy-winning balladeer who provided the defining voice for the biggest pop-culture soundtracks of the 1990s, died on Tuesday. He was 75.
The acclaimed singer transitioned peacefully at 5:00 p.m. ET surrounded by loved ones after suffering a stroke over the weekend, according to the family’s official statement. Bryson built a towering five-decade career that cemented him as one of the premier voices in R&B history.
Born in South Carolina in 1951, Bryson found his rhythm in the 1970s and 1980s with soulful hits like “Feel the Fire” and “Can You Stop the Rain.” He reached the absolute pinnacle of global fame in the following decade by anchoring the Disney Renaissance era. He was universally recognized for delivering Oscar-winning vocal performances, with an AP report confirming his passing and his historic run of soundtrack hits.
His legendary duet with Celine Dion on the title track for “Beauty and the Beast” won him his first Grammy. A year later, he struck gold again alongside Regina Belle with “A Whole New World” for the animated classic Aladdin.
City officials and music industry peers immediately began sharing their grief online. Mourning his deep regional roots, Mayor Andre Dickens released an official public statement honoring the late singer. “Atlanta was proud to call Peabo Bryson one of our own,” Dickens said, noting it was the city “where his artistry flourished and where he helped shape Atlanta’s rich musical legacy.”
Bryson had previously suffered a mild heart attack in 2019 but made a full physical recovery at the time. He is survived by his wife, Tanya Boniface Bryson, and his two children.