Legendary singer Peabo Bryson has sadly passed away at the age of 75 after suffering a stroke. His soulful vocals launched several R&B standards, though most listeners will recognize his talents from two Oscar-winning Disney ballads: “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World.”
The news was shared on his social media pages, which explained he was surrounded by the love of his family and friends.
“For more than five decades, Peabo’s extraordinary voice served as the soundtrack to some of life’s most cherished moments. His music carried generations through joyful celebrations, great love stories and enduring moments of comfort and inspiration, creating a legacy that will forever live in the hearts of those who loved him and the countless lives he touched through song,” his family wrote. “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.”
Today, we’re remembering Bryson by looking at his work on “A Whole New World” from the 1992 Disney animated film, “Aladdin.” In the movie, the song is performed by Brad Kane and Lea Salonga, who provided the singing voices for Aladdin and Princess Jasmine. Bryson was recruited to sing a more commercial version of the song as a duet with Regina Belle. Their rendition appeared on the soundtrack and also plays during the film’s end credits.
Watch the music video, featuring Bryson and Belle spliced in among scenes from “Aladdin.”
The Vocal Performance Behind “A Whole New World”
Clearly, the song was more than a Disney add-on; it was a bona fide pop event. It won an Oscar for Best Original Song and a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. It also became the first song from an animated film to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100, with Billboard writing that “Regina Belle and Bryson’s version of [‘A Whole New World’] became a No. 1 Hot 100 hit in 1993, notably taking the throne from Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You,’ after its then-record 14 weeks on top.”
In a 2019 interview with Good Morning America, Bryson acknowledged the task he was handed by Disney.
“I think when you’re in the studio doing a great Alan Menken song with great lyrics by Tim Rice, you’re kinda charged to be as special as you can possibly be. They demand a bit more.”
He delivered with a clear and consistent tone that tugs at the heartstrings. So did Belle, although she was suffering from bronchitis.
“Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle sing ‘A Whole New World’ with gloss and dignity,” Stereogum says. “They’re both masters of smoothed-out soul, and they know when to hold back and when to let loose with the melisma. Their voices sound nice together, easy and textured. But they also sound like adults, which completely negates the dazzled, starry-eyed feeling of the song.”
Bryson has left the world with a piece of music that continues to resonate today and will for generations to come. As he told Good Morning America, “A great piece of music is something that you’ll never ever get tired of listening to. That’s when you know as an artist or a music person that it has legs or not.”
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Peabo Bryson.
