The world of rhythm and blues is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved voices: Peabo Bryson, the Grammy-winning singer behind some of Disney’s most iconic animated film themes, has died at the age of 75. His family confirmed in an official statement that Bryson passed away peacefully at 5:00 pm ET on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, with his loved ones and closest friends by his side, less than one month after he celebrated his 75th birthday. His death comes just two days after the public learned he had suffered a recent stroke.
Born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, South Carolina, Bryson built a decades-spanning career that cemented his place as one of the most celebrated R&B balladeers of his generation. He got his start in professional performing as a teenager, singing backup vocals for a local South Carolina group called Al Freeman and the Upsetters — a band he later described as “terrible” in an interview with *Soul* magazine. It was during this early period that Freeman’s difficulty pronouncing his birth name “Peapo” led him to adopt the stage name Peabo, the moniker that would become known to fans worldwide.
Bryson’s first major break came when he joined the touring ensemble Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display, which performed across the historic Chitlin’ Circuit of Black-owned venues in the 1970s. Talent scouts from Bang Records caught one of the group’s sets, were instantly drawn to Bryson’s smooth baritone, and signed him as a solo artist. He released his self-titled debut album *Peabo* with the label in 1976, then moved to Capitol Records to expand his career. By 1978, he landed his first Top 10 hit on the Billboard R&B chart with *Reaching for the Sky*, kicking off a steady streak of commercial and critical success.
Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Bryson solidified his reputation as one of the most in-demand duet partners in the industry. His 1979 collaboration with Natalie Cole, *Gimme Some Time*, reached No. 8 on the R&B chart, followed by their 1980 track *What You Won’t Do for Love* which hit No. 16 on the same chart. He went on to record a string of successful duets with Roberta Flack, starting with 1980’s *Make the World Stand Still* and leading to their joint 1983 album *Born to Love*. Their hit *Tonight, I Celebrate My Love* reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming one of Bryson’s most recognizable solo-era hits.
Bryson’s greatest mainstream success came from his work with Disney on two of its most beloved animated feature films. In 1991, he recorded *Beauty and the Beast*, the title theme for Disney’s animated classic, alongside Celine Dion — the track earned him his first Grammy Award. The following year, he paired with Regina Belle for *A Whole New World*, the signature theme from *Aladdin*. The duet made history as the first song from an animated feature film to claim the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and it went on to win Bryson his second Grammy. Over the full span of his career, Bryson released more than 20 full-length studio albums, leaving behind a sprawling discography of hits that includes fan favorites *As Long As There’s Christmas* and *You’re Looking Like Love to Me*.
Beyond his early health scare from a stroke that preceded his death, Bryson had previously suffered a heart attack in 2019, but made a full recovery and returned to performing in the years that followed. In their statement, Bryson’s family thanked fans for the overwhelming outpouring of support and love following news of his passing, noting that his five-decade career provided a soundtrack for some of life’s most meaningful moments.
“For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments. 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,” the statement read. Bryson is survived by his wife and two children.