After her “Beauty and the Beast” duet partner, Peabo Bryson, passed away, Celine Dion shared a heartfelt tribute on her Instagram story.
“His incredible voice and kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance, ” she said. “He made me so comfortable, as I was just learning to sing in English.”
She shares that Bryson’s influence would always be part of her life, saying, “He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life.”
At the end of her post, Dion gives her condolences to Bryson’s family, saying, “My heart is with your family, and may you rest in peace, Peabo.”
Bryson passed away on June 2 at age 75, mere days after having a stroke. In responses to posts and messages like Dion’s, his family shared, “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,” per People.
Bryson was best known for his Disney hits including “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World,” which was the first song from an animated movie to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, according to People.
His duet with Dion reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100. When asked about the song in a 2017 interview, Bryson shared that he “never ever got tired of listening to it.”
Though the song was originally intended as a solo for Dion, they paired her with the established singer due to her newness in the industry. This pairing clearly worked, as it resulted in the classic 1991 piece that is still listened to today, and a new friendship: “He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded Beauty and the Beast.”
With all the love Bryson has received following his passing his family’s statement rings true: “His legacy and music will live on for generations to come.”