Peabo Bryson, the American R&B balladeer whose soaring duets for Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “Aladdin” became indelible anthems of the 1990s, has died aged 75. His family confirmed that Bryson died on Tuesday evening at his home in Marietta, Georgia, just days after suffering a severe stroke over the weekend. His passing marks the loss of one of the most distinctive voices in romantic soul, whose crossover appeal bridged generations and continents.

A two-time Grammy winner, Bryson’s career spanned more than five decades, from his early years with Moses Dillard and the Tex-Town Display to a string of solo hits. But it was his collaborations with Celine Dion on the Oscar-winning “Beauty and the Beast” and with Regina Belle on “A Whole New World” from “Aladdin” that secured his place in the global popular imagination. The songs not only won Academy Awards but dominated charts from North America to East Asia, their lyrics translated into dozens of languages and their melodies instantly recognisable from Jakarta to Berlin.

In a statement released to international media, his family said they were “tremendously moved by the outpouring of love” from 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.” The singer had overcome a heart attack in 2019, but his health remained fragile. This latest stroke proved fatal despite medical intervention.

The global uniformity of the tributes – from Arabic satellite channels to Indonesian news portals – underscores the cultural reach of Disney’s renaissance era, which relied on Bryson’s rich tenor to bring its fairy-tale romances to life. Viewed from London or São Paulo, his voice conjured a moment when animated musicals commanded the mainstream, a legacy that now seems untouchable. As fans and commentators note, his recordings will endure as a soundtrack to childhood for millions, a testament to the power of melody that knows no borders.