Peabo Bryson left behind a legacy that shaped generations of music lovers and Hip-Hop producers who’d later flip his silky vocals into their own hits.
The legendary R&B balladeer passed away peacefully at 5:00 P.M. ET on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at age 75, surrounded by family and loved ones after suffering a stroke just days before.
His family released a statement honoring his more than five decades of artistry, noting how his extraordinary voice became the soundtrack to life’s most cherished moments.
Bryson’s career trajectory began in South Carolina in the 1970s, when he was part of Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display before launching his solo career.
He signed to Bang Records in Atlanta and dropped his first album in 1976, then moved to Capitol Records the following year, where he’d build his reputation as a master of smooth, soulful ballads.
Hits like “Feel the Fire” and “Reaching for the Sky” established him as a force in R&B, and by 1984, he scored his first Top 10 pop hit with “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again.”
His duet work became legendary, collaborating with Roberta Flack on “Born to Love” in 1983 and later recording with Angela Bofill and Regina Belle. But Bryson’s influence extended far beyond the R&B charts.
He became a household name through Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion and “Whole New World” with Regina Belle, songs that defined a generation’s romantic moments.
His catalog became a goldmine for Hip-Hop producers who recognized the magic in his vocal delivery. The Game and Drake sampled “Feel the Fire” for their 2015 track “100,” while Metro Boomin, A$AP Rocky, and Takeoff flipped it again for “Feel the Fiyaaaah” in 2022.
Ty Dolla $ign, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Jadakiss, and countless others built their own classics on Bryson’s foundation, proving that great music transcends genre.