By Sarah Holston
COMMENTARY
Legendary Rhythm and Blues(R&B) singer/songwriter also known as the Voice of Love Peabo Bryson sadly passed away on June 2, 2026 at the age of 75 in Marietta, GA. The silky-smooth cruner rose to fame in the mid-1970s through 1990s released twenty studio albums, and was a eight-time Grammy-nominee. He was also best known for singing duets with the most top female vocal artists of all times. He also lived in Atlanta, GA.
Born Robert “Peabo” Bryson on April 13, 1951 in Greenville, SC to Telford Copeland and Marie Bryson. He attended two high schools in his hometown, Washington High School and Joseph E. Beck High School before starting a sucessful music career.
Bryson began his singing career as a teenager performing in a local regional ensemble group called Al Freeman and The Upsetters in 1965 at the age of 14. He also toured with Moses Dillard and Text Town Display where he signed with his first record deal with Bang Records as a lyricist, arranger, and producer who was impressed with his singing in 1976. Peabo also signed a deal with Capitol Records in 1977 before moving to Elektra Records in 1984. He later went back to Capitol Records. Peabo Bryson had two hits in 1978; “Reaching for the Sky,” which was in the first Top 10 on the R&B charts, and “Crosswinds.” One year later in 1979 he recorded two songs with Natalie Cole; “We’re the Best of Friends,” and “Gimme Some Love,” that reached No. 8 one the charts. Also in 1979 the song “What You Won’t Do for Love” reached No. 16. Peabo also had a Top 20 hit with “Minute By Minute” on a cover of American rock band the Doobie Brother’s song.
Peabo was best known for his famous duets with singer and pianist Roberta Flack. Peabo and Roberta recorded six songs together. The first duet was; “Make the World Stand Still”(1980), that reached No.13 on the R&B chart, “Love Is a Waiting Game,” “You’re Lookin’ Like Love to Me,” “I Just Came Here to Dance,” and their most sucessful love song of all time, “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” reached No.16 on Hot 100, and they also released a duets album “Born to Love” in 1983. Peabo said in an interview he believed that the secret to a really good duet is the singer have to fall a little bit in love with their duet partner, and he was very fortunate to find that kind of chemistry with Roberta Flack because she was that great.
In the 1980s, Peabo Bryson had a top hit in 1984, “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” and another hit 1989 song “Show and Tell.” In 1985, he was also chosen to sing the theme song for the soap opera One Life to Live.
In 1991, Peabo had another hit track, “Can You Stop the Rain,” and in the same year he recorded the song for Disney’s animated classic Beauty and the Beast with Celine Dion that reached No. 9 on the Hot 100, and won both of them a Grammy Award. He recorded another Disney hit, “A Whole New World” from Aladdin(1992) with Regina Belle who also sung together for the song “Without You” for the 1988 movie Leonard Part 6. Bryson continued recording other songs for Disney with Roberta Flack such as “As Long as There’s Christmas” from Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas(1997), and “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto(2022).
In 2015, Bryson recorded two songs with singer and television personality Kimberley Locke, “Wishes” for the Disney Wishes! Album in support of the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and “Stand for Love” in 2018.
Peabo also received other awards and achievements in his career, a Golden Globe Award(1993), an Academy Award(1993), and a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal(1994). On September 4, 2016 at the Low Country Jazz Festivil in the cities of North Charleston and Charleston, SC, both declared that day as “Peabo Bryson Day.”
Bryson was survived by his wife Tonya Boniface, member of the British girl group The 411 of six years and two children, Linda and Robert.
Other Facts About Peabo Bryson
· Favorite Colors: Purple, Violet, and Lavender
· Favorite Food: Japanese Food
· Favorite Time of Year: Christmas
· Favorite Vacation Spot: Anywhere near water
· Peabo mentioned in a interview that singing was always his passion. At one time he thought he wanted to become a doctor; however he knew in the end that music was something he wanted to do.
· Collaberated with other recording artists such as Luther Vandross and Cissy Houston
· In 1992 Peabo recorded a song with Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Kenny G, “By The Time This Night Is Over.” The song also appeared on Peabo’s 1994 album Through The Fire.
· In 1997, Peabo Bryson performed on the U.S. touring cast of The Wiz revival and the cast of Porgy and Bess in 1998 at the Michigan Opera House of Detroit.