Celine Dion, Kenny Lattimore and More Pay Tribute to R&B Singer Peabo Bryson After His Death at 75

Friends and family of singer Peabo Bryson have paid tribute to the star after his death at the age of 75.

The sad news was confirmed on Tuesday, June 2, in a statement shared with the media by his family .

People reported he suffered a stroke over the weekend and had been receiving further treatment.

“We are tremendously moved by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends, and colleagues around the world,” the statement read. “While our hearts are broken, we find comfort in knowing how deeply Peabo was loved and how many lives were touched by his voice and his generous spirit. His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”

Bryson was a fixture on the R&B scene for decades, singing hits including 1983’s “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” with Roberta Flack and 1984’s “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again.”

His career peaked in a two-year period from 1992, when he was featured on recordings that topped four separate charts, including his “Aladdin’s Theme” duet with Regina Belle for Aladdin, which topped both the Pop and Adult Contemporary charts. The King and I album, featuring Bryson, was No. 1 on the Classical Crossover charts, and Kenny G’s Breathless LP, featuring Bryson on By the Time the Night Is Over topped the Contemporary Jazz charts.

Meanwhile, Bryson collected two Grammy awards back-to-back in 1993 and 1994 for his vocal performances on two duets “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion, and “A Whole New World” with Belle.

Dion wrote that she was “heartbroken” by the news of his death on Instagram, adding: “His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance. He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded ‘Beauty and the Beast’.

“He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life,” she added. “His voice and his talent will be missed.”

Singer Kenny Lattimore shared a tribute on Instagram, writing, “Our brother Peabo Bryson has joined the ancestors. One of the greatest voices our genre has ever known. Thank you for the legendary music, the excellence, and your supreme example. Your legacy is forever etched into the heart of R&B & beyond. Rest in power, my friend.”

Bryson made his professional debut 14. According to BBC, Bryson performed in a concert with Jeffrey Osborne in Georgia last month.

He was also set to perform shows for his Golden Touch tour later this year, as part of a celebration of his five decades in the music industry.