Peabo Bryson, R&B Singer and Disney Songwriter, Dead at 75

Peabo Bryson, the R&B singer best known for his work on Disney anthems, died on Tuesday (June 2) at the age of 75.

The artist won a Grammy alongside Celine Dion for their duet ‘Beauty And The Beast’ the theme from the hit 1991 Disney animation of the same name. He won a second Grammy the following year for the theme from Aladdin , ‘A Whole New World’, which he sang alongside Regina Belle.

According to BBC News , an official cause of death was not disclosed, however he had suffered a stroke the weekend before his death, for which he had been receiving care. His family shared that he had passed away surrounded by loved ones.

> I’m heartbroken to hear that we lost Peabo Bryson today. His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance. He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded Beauty and the Beast. He made me so comfortable, as I was… pic.twitter.com/ti8Tba33Or — Celine Dion (@celinedion) June 3, 2026

Celine Dion earned her first UK and US top 10 single with the anthem, and paid tribute to Bryson on X (formerly Twitter). “I’m heartbroken to hear that we lost Peabo Bryson today,” she wrote, alongside a picture of the pair together. “His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance. He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded ‘Beauty and the Beast’. 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 the joy that music has brought to my life. His voice and his talent will be missed.”

Outside of his work with Disney, he recorded several successful albums and singles. His 1978 albums ‘Reaching For The Sky’ and ‘Crosswinds’ were both certified gold, while his single ‘Tonight, I Celebrate My Love’ with Roberta Flack reached number two in the UK chart. He was nominated for six further Grammys during his career, as well as one Emmy for Best Original Song in 1993.

Andre Dickens, mayor of Atlanta, also paid tribute , praising his “extraordinary talent” and calling him “one of our own.” Peabo Bryson is survived by his wife, Tanya Bonaface Bryson; his children, Robert and Linda; and three grandchildren.

The post R&B singer and Disney songwriting icon Peabo Bryson dies, age 75 appeared first on NME .

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