mercredi 3 juin 2026
Legendary R&B singer Peabo Bryson dies at 75
(June 2, 2026) He possessed the purest of voices. A deep, rich baritone that showed a unique versatility, but which found its sweetest of spots on soulful love songs. Tonight we are devasted to pass on the news that legendary soul balladeer Peabo Bryson died today at 5:00 pm, just days after suffering a stroke. He was 75. Bryson had previously suffered a heart attack in 2019 from which he fully recovered.
The statement from Bryson’s family said he was, at the time of his death, “surrounded by the love of his family and those closest to him.” It further read, “We are tremendously moved by the outpouring of love, prayers and support from fans, friends, and colleagues around the world. 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.”
2026 had been a year of celebration for Bryson, as he was on the tail end of “Golden Touch” tour, commemorating 50 years in music, and was preparing for an upcoming album Jam and Lewis-produced album called Grace.
For me this passing particularly hurts. Peabo was one of the first artists I ever interviewed, when I was a 19 year old college student student writing for The State News at Michigan State University. He was kind and patient in dealing with a young writer who was clearly learning how to interview a star, and I will always be grateful.
The South Carolina born singer created an amazingly long-lasting career. While in his early 20s he worked with producer Michael Zager’s band (“Let’s All Chant”) and recorded as a solo artist while writing with other artists at Bang/Bullet Records such as Paul Davis. His 1976 Bullet Records debut, Peabo, was a moderate success and contained one notable song, “Just Another Day” (which bore great resemblance to the Spinners’ “How Could I Let You Get Away”).
It was his next album, Reaching for the Sky (and its oft-covered hit, “Feel The Fire”), that took Peabo to the top of the male R&B vocalist class. His follow up, 1978’s Crosswinds, solidified that position and gave him his biggest hit to date, “I’m So Into You.” In both albums he demonstrated himself as a smooth soul balladeer and a solid writer, with his rich baritone wrapping itself around mostly “quiet storm” material. 1979 brought a very good duet album with Natalie Cole, the first of several duet partners with whom he would work, and a moderate hit, “Gimme Some Time.” He followed two years later with his first real solo crossover success, I Am Love, and the hit “Let the Feeling Flow.”
Peabo blew the roof off 1983 on a duet album with Roberta Flack, the pure adult contemporary Tonight I Celebrate My Love, yielding four hits and moving him to a leading role in the AC market. However, this crossover success came at a price, as the increasingly adult pop sound of his records (especially the singles) threatened his longtime soul music base. This continued with his next album, Straight From the Heart (his first on Elektra Records), a crossover smash that included the number one pop song of the year, Michael Masser’s “If Ever You’re In My Arms Again.”
He continued to release albums prolifically for a few more years, but found limited success on both the R&B and pop charts. Then his career found an unexpected boost: In 1991 he released the single “Can You Stop the Rain,” one of the most compelling songs of his career and his first #1 R&B hit in several years. It anchored a solid album of the same name. He then hit the top of the pop charts twice on themes from two consecutive Disney animated smashes, “Beauty and the Beast” with Celine Dion and “A Whole New World” (from Aladdin), with Regina Belle.
While the big hits slowed down in the new century, Peabo Bryson continued to record and tour regularly. He scored a surprise hit in 2018 year working with Jam & Lewis on the album Stand For Love, which boasted the urban adult contemporary #1 “Love Like Yours and Mine.”
It would be tough to find a male artist who straddled as many fences throughout his career as Peabo Bryson — from R&B to pop to smooth jazz to theater — while always maintaining a consistent identity as a gentle, romantic balladeer. He undoubtedly possessed one of the greatest voices of his generation and continuously made even less than stellar material rise to a higher level. And in the process he deservedly accumulated millions of fans around the world.
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Concept 1981
Released in October 1981, this would be their only album for SOLAR Records label. It also reunited them with older brother and former member Leon Sylvers III as he was working for SOLAR at the time.
The album's two singles were not as successful, with "Come Back, Lover, Come Back" reaching #63 on Billboard's dance singles chart and "Take It to the Top" failing to chart.
Disco Fever 1979
Disco Fever is the eighth album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group the Sylvers, released in 1979. This was their second and last album for Casablanca Records.
Forever Yours 1978
Forever Yours is an album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group the Sylvers.[3] Originally recorded when the Sylvers were still signed to Capitol Records, big brother Leon took over on production. Capitol did not like the new sound and rejected the album and dropped them. The Sylvers shopped the material elsewhere and by mid-1978 had signed with Casablanca Records. This would be their most critically acclaimed album, it would also be the last album Leon would be involved with for the family until 1981's album Concept as he would leave to become in-house producer for Dick Griffey's SOLAR Records. Two singles were released. "Don't Stop, Get Off" charted in late 1978 at number 15 on the US R&B charts. "Forever Yours" was the second single released in 1979 and didn't chart at all due to management shake-ups at Casablanca, even though it was sent to both pop and R&B radio stations.
New Horizons 1977
New Horizons is the sixth album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group the Sylvers.
Released in November 1977, this would be their third and final studio album for Capitol Records.
Two singles from the set were released: "Any Way You Want Me" and "New Horizons".
On July 23, 2012, New Horizons was released on a double-album CD along with their first Capitol record, Showcase.
Something Special 1976
Something Special is the fifth album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group the Sylvers.
Released in November, 1976, this was the family's second album for Capitol Records, and their fifth album overall. Produced by Freddie Perren, "Something Special" would be the last album in which the Sylvers would team with the veteran producer.
Two singles were released from this set: "Hot Line" peaked at #5, and "High School Dance" peaked at #17.
Showcase 1975
Showcase is the fourth album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group the Sylvers.
Released in 1975, this would be their first of three albums for Capitol Records and one of two that were produced by Freddie Perren.
The album released only two singles: "Boogie Fever" reaching number one in the U.S. on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts as well as reaching number one in Canada on the RPM national singles chart in 1976.[3] The second single "Cotton Candy" peaked on Billboard R&B Chart Position #19.
The Sylvers III 1974
The Sylvers III is the third album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group the Sylvers. Released in 1974, it was produced by Perry Botkin, Jr. and Michael Viner. This was their last recording on MGM before they went to Capitol Records.
The album is notable for having few songwriting credits from primary songwriter Leon Sylvers III. Instead, most of the writing is handled by Sharon Sylvers, group member James Sylvers and the Sylvers family matriarch Shirley Sylvers, who wrote three songs: "Don't Give Up the Good Life", "What's It All About" and "TCB".
The Sylvers II 1973
The Sylvers II is the second album by American R&B group the Sylvers. Released in 1973, it was produced by Keg Johnson and Jerry Peters. It was their final album for Pride Records before being moved over to Pride's parent label MGM Records for the release of 1974's The Sylvers III.
The Sylvers 1972
The Sylvers is the debut album by the Los Angeles, California-based R&B group the Sylvers. The album was released on MGM Records subsidiary Pride Records, a label founded by record and film producer Michael Viner. Released in 1972, it was produced by R&B legends Jerry Butler (of the Impressions) and Keg Johnson.
This album released three singles: "Fool's Paradise", "Wish I Could Talk to You" and "I'll Never Be Ashamed".
mercredi 27 mai 2026
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