The global music community is mourning the loss of iconic R&B singer Peabo Bryson, whose velvety vocals defined decades of beloved soundtrack and pop hits, after his peaceful passing on Tuesday surrounded by family. According to an official statement released by Bryson’s family, the 75-year-old artist died at 5:00 pm ET on June 2, 2026, at his home, with loved ones and close friends at his side. His death came just three weeks after he celebrated his 75th birthday, and only two days after the public learned he had suffered a severe stroke over the preceding weekend.
Born Robert Peapo Bryson, Bryson launched his professional music career in the 1970s as a member of the soul group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display, before stepping into the spotlight as a solo artist just a few years into his tenure with the group. What followed was a historic, cross-generational career that spanned more than 50 years, yielded over 20 full-length studio albums, and cemented his status as one of the most recognizable R&B balladeers of the modern era.
Bryson’s greatest mainstream acclaim came from his iconic work with The Walt Disney Company on two of its most celebrated animated feature films. First, he paired with Canadian pop icon Celine Dion to record the title track for *Beauty and the Beast*, the 1991 animated classic that earned the duo a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. Just a year later, he joined singer Regina Belle to record “A Whole New World” for Disney’s *Aladdin* – a track that earned Bryson his second Grammy, in the same category, and remains one of the most streamed Disney soundtrack songs of all time.
Beyond his blockbuster soundtrack work, Bryson built a catalog of fan-favorite solo and collaborative hits, including the chart-topping duet *Tonight, I Celebrate My Love* with Roberta Flack, *You’re Looking Like Love to Me*, and the holiday ballad *As Long as There’s Christmas*, featured in Disney’s 1998 direct-to-video sequel *Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas*. His warm, rich vocal tone made him a go-to artist for life milestone moments, from weddings to anniversary celebrations to quiet moments of grief and comfort.
In their statement, Bryson’s family thanked fans across the globe for the immediate outpouring of love and well wishes that followed news of his stroke, and reflected on the enduring legacy the singer leaves behind. “For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments,” the statement read. “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.”