Peabo Bryson, the Grammy-winning vocalist whose duet with Celine Dion on ‘Beauty and the Beast’ became an anthem of the early 1990s, has died. He was 72. Bryson passed away on Friday at his home in Los Angeles after a prolonged illness, his publicist confirmed. The cause was complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Bryson’s voice, a warm and agile tenor, defined an era of romantic ballads. His collaborations with Dion, Roberta Flack, and Regina Belle produced a string of hits that dominated adult contemporary charts. But it was his 1991 duet with Dion on the title track of Disney’s animated classic that cemented his legacy. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group. It remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Celine Dion released a statement expressing her grief: “Peabo was not just a voice, he was a soul. Singing with him felt like floating. I am heartbroken, but grateful for the music we made together. The world has lost a true artist.” She cancelled her scheduled Las Vegas residency performance on Saturday night.
Bryson’s career spanned five decades. He released 21 studio albums, with three reaching platinum status. His 1978 duet with Flack, ‘Tonight, I Celebrate My Love’, became a wedding staple. He also sang with Belle on Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ soundtrack. In 2015, he was inducted into the Soul Music Hall of Fame.
Friends and collaborators paid tribute. Quincy Jones called Bryson “a master of emotional storytelling through song.” Smokey Robinson wrote, “His voice was a gift to all of us. He will be missed.” Bryson is survived by his wife, Linda, and their two children.
The music industry is a system of interdependent parts. Bryson’s role was to provide the warm harmonic substrate that elevated pop into art. His loss leaves a void not easily filled. Like a keystone species in a fragile ecosystem, his contributions helped maintain the structural integrity of an entire genre. The legacy of that work, however, will continue to resonate: his recordings will be played, streamed, and studied for generations.
Memorial services will be private. The family requests that donations be made to the American Lung Association in lieu of flowers.
