The name Peabo Bryson, probably doesn’t mean much to you on its own, but his music very likely will.
Bryson was the velvety R&B voice behind two Disney classics (the end credits versions!) “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World.”
“With broken hearts and profound sadness, the family of two-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and balladeer Peabo Bryson, announces his passing,” Bryson’s family wrote in a statement, “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.”
The family did not disclose a cause of death. However, they did state that Bryson had suffered a stroke in a statement released this past Sunday.
“He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded “Beauty and the Beast,” she wrote alongside a photo of the two. “He made me so comfortable as I was just learning to sing in English. He will remain for me always as a real symbol of joy that music has brought to my life. His voice and talent will be missed,” writes Celine Dion (Bryson’s “Beauty and the Beast” duet partner, in case you didn’t already know) in an Instagram Story, “My heart is with your family, and may you rest in peace Peabo. Love, Celine xx.”
Bryson’s other Disney duet partner, Regina Belle, also took to Instagram to mourn the loss of her friend saying, “With a heavy heart, I share the loss of my dear friend and duet partner, Peabo Bryson. Thank you for the music, the memories, and the magic.”
Bryson was born Robert Peapo Bryson in Greenville, S.C., in 1951.
“And, as far back as I can remember, I’ve always been into music,” he told Soul magazine in 1978. “It’s all I ever wanted to really deal with, and of course, like everyone else, I had to make that decision—I guess when I was around 14—as to what I was going to get into, career-wise. Well, I’d thought about being a doctor or something like that, but I really felt that music was my thing.”
Bryson began performing with a local group called Al Freeman and The Upsetters as a teenager, a group that he described as “terrible” in the Soul magazine interview.
However, Bryson’s true “big break” came with the group Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display (He was only a backup singer with Green’s outfit).
An executive with Bang Records heard the group perform and was especially impressed with Bryson’s vocals. He released one album, Peabo, with the label in 1976 before moving to Capitol Records.
Bryson had several hits among his career, but none would eclipse the success of his Disney collaborations. He will always be remembered because we will always have Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.
Celebration of life and memorial arrangements will be announced at a later date.
Photo Courtesy of Social Media
