Peabo Bryson (April 13, 1951 – June 2, 2026) was an American singer and songwriter. After collaborating with singers Luther Vandross and Cissy Houston on his debut album Peabo (1976), he signed with Capitol Records and recorded the 1978 albums Reaching for the Sky and Crosswinds, both of which were certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.
He went on to collaborate with Natalie Cole on We’re the Best of Friends (1979) and Roberta Flack on Born to Love (1983), which produced the hit ballad “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”.
He signed to Elektra Records in 1984 and recorded the single “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” which spent many weeks at the top of the adult contemporary chart.
During this time he had many top ten albums on the US Billboard R&B Albums chart, with Can You Stop the Rain (1991) topping the chart. Bryson has also worked on several Disney animated feature films, including “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion and “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle, the latter of which became the first song from a feature-length animated film to top the Billboard Hot 100. Bryson has won two Grammy Awards for his Disney duets.
Biography of Peab Bryson
Robert Peapo Bryson was born on April 13, 1951 in Greenville, South Carolina and grew up on his grandfather’s farm in Mauldin, South Carolina. Bryson’s passion for music began with his mother, who often took the family to concerts featuring famous black artists of the era.
Career
Bryson made his professional debut at the age of 14, singing backup for Al Freeman and the Upsetters, a local band from Greenville.
Freeman’s difficulty pronouncing Bryson’s French West Indian name, Peapo, prompted him to perform as Peabo.
Two years later, he left his hometown to tour the Chitlin’ Circuit with another local band, Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display.
Bryson’s initial break came while recording at Bang Records in Atlanta. Although Bang was unimpressed with Dillard’s band, the youthful backing singer piqued the interest of Eddie Biscoe, the label’s general manager.
Biscoe signed Bryson as a composer, producer and arranger and invited him to perform his own material. Bryson spent several years writing and producing for Bang, as well as working with local bands.
In 1976, he started his own music career with “Underground Music” for the Bang label. His debut album, Peabo, followed soon after. Despite becoming a regional success, Bryson was signed to Capitol Records in 1977.
Bryson’s biggest solo hits include 1977’s “Feel the Fire” and 1977’s “Reaching for the Sky,” 1978’s “I’m So into You” and 1978’s “Crosswinds,” 1982’s “Let the Feeling Flow,” 1984’s “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again” (his first Top 10 pop single, at #10 in the US), 1989’s “Show and Tell.” and the 1991 hit “Can You Stop the Rain”.
In 1985, he appeared in the soap opera One Life to Live, singing a lyrical version of the theme song. Bryson’s vocals were added to the main theme music in 1986 and were heard every day until 1992.
In 1983, he recorded the revolutionary album Born to Love, which featured beautiful love duets with Roberta Flack. In 1988, Bryson recorded the duet “For You and I” with Angela Bofill.
Bryson collaborated with Regina Belle on two hit duets: “Without You”, the love theme from the comedy Leonard Part 6, recorded in 1987, and “A Whole New World”, the main theme of the Disney animated film Aladdin, recorded in 1992.
Bryson and Belle have released four duets over the years: “Without You” (1987), “I Can’t Imagine” (1991), “A Whole New World” (1992) and “Total Praise” (2009).
He received two Grammy awards: in 1992 for the performance of the song “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion and in 1993 for “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle.
In early 1998, Bryson lent his voice to Barney’s Great Adventure: An Original Motion Picture Musical Soundtrack, with the song “Dream (Twinken’s Tune)”.
Bryson has appeared in theater and opera productions, most notably as tenor in “Sportin’ Life” in Michigan Opera’s production of Porgy and Bess in Detroit.
On August 21, 2003, the United States Internal Revenue Service seized goods from his residence in Atlanta, Georgia, revealing his financial problems.
He is said to have paid less than $1.2 million in taxes since 1984. The IRS has auctioned off several of his possessions, including two Grammy Awards, electrical equipment, his grand piano and several pairs of shoes.
However, his Grammy for “A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme)” was bought by a close family friend, who promised to return it to Brownson.
Songs
Studio albums
- Peabo (1976)
- Reaching for the Sky (1977)
- Sidewind (1978)
- paradise (1980)
- Turn the Clocks of Time (1981)
- I Am Love (1981)
- Don’t Play With Fire (1982)
- Straight from the heart (1984)
- Take No Prisoners (1985)
- The Silent Storm (1986)
- Positive (1988)
- All My Love (1989)
- Can You Stop the Rain (1991)
- Through the Fire (1994)
- Peace on Earth (1997)
- Unconditional Love (1999)
- I Miss You (2007)
- Stand for Love (2018)
- Grace (2026)
Collaboration albums
- We’re Best Friends (Natalie Cole) (1979)
- Live and More with (Roberta Flack) (1980)
- Born for Love (Roberta Flack) (1983)
Personal life
In 2010, Bryson married Tanya Boniface, a singer and member of the English R&B group The 411.
In 2018, they had a son who occasionally joined his father on stage. He also has a daughter from a previous relationship and three grandchildren.
Before his marriage, Bryson was engaged to a number of women, including Juanita Leonard, ex-wife of boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, and Angela Thigpen, former Miss Virginia Teen USA who later became a model and actress.
Peabo Bryson Cause of death
On April 29, 2019, it was reported that Peabo Bryson had suffered a heart attack and was taken to an Atlanta hospital, where he was said to be stable. He has fully recovered.
On May 31, 2026, CBS News reported that Bryson had suffered a stroke. He died two days later, June 2 at a hospital in Marietta, Georgia, at the age of 75.
Peabo Bryson net worth
Peabo Bryson, an American singer, songwriter, and record producer, had a net worth of $2.5 million when he died.
Social media
Instagram: @peabobryson2
