MARIETTA, GA—On June 2, two-time Grammy Award-winning Rhythm and Blues singer, Robert Peapo, “Peabo” Bryson, passed away. Multiple reports indicate that he had a stroke on May 31st and died two days later in a hospital in his hometown of Marietta, Georgia.
Peabo Bryson is best known as the male vocalist in his Oscar-winning duets with Celine Dion,
“A Whole New World,” Beauty and the Beast,” and “Aladdin.”
Bryson was famous long before singing, Tonight I Celebrate My Love, and other Disney favorites. In the 1970s, Bryson was dubbed “The Voice of Love” when he sang with Roberta Flack, Minnie Ripton, and Natalie Cole, the latter of whom was the daughter of the legendary Nat King Cole.
In a 2015 interview with Tatler Asia, Bryson spoke fondly of the days he and Roberta Flack sang Rhythm and Blues duets together.
“I think the secret to a really good duet is that you have to fall a little bit in love with your duet partner. I was very fortunate in finding a duet partner in Roberta Flack, who really knew what a duet was and knew how to play to a person’s strengths and weaknesses equally. I learned how to do a great duet from working with Roberta Flack because she’s that great.”
Bryson leaves behind dozens of musical hits to be remembered by, his wife Tanya, whom he married in 2010, his son Robert, his daughter Linda, three grandchildren, and the many friends and fans he accumulated through decades of sharing his voice through song.
