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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZBRYSON, Peabo(b Robert Peabo Bryson, 13 April '51, Greenville SC) Sweet soul singer. Background in harmony singing from church; joined first group Al Freeman and the Upsetters age 14. Sang pro with Moses Dillard and the Tex- Town Display '68--73, toured while following parallel career as prod./songwriter for Bert Berns's Bang label, the group recorded for Bang and Curtis Mayfield's Curtom. Formed partnership with Mayfield confederate, arr. Johnny Pate, recording Peabo mid-'70s for Bang's Bullett subsidiary; team endured for several years. Singles like 'Underground Music' (first release), 'I Can Make It Better', 'Just Another Day' showed strongly in R&B charts '76--7, as did guest shot with Michael Zager on 'Do It With Feeling'. Signed with Capitol on Bang's demise for Reaching For The Sky '77; duet LP with Natalie Cole We're The Best Of Friends '79 was successful despite lacking a certain consistency, the vocal tracks recorded separately. Greatest crossover success as part of team with Roberta Flack: she lost partner Donny Hathaway in tragic circumstances; Bryson cloned him for Live And More '80, repeating formula in studio to better effect on Born To Love '83, slick selection written/prod. largely by Diana Ross's songsmith Michael Masser. LP incl. no. 16 USA/2 UK 'Tonight I Celebrate My Love'. After nine albums for Capitol, all of which went gold except for Bullett-era compilation, he made Straight From My Heart '84, Take No Prisoners '85 and Positive '88 for Elektra, former incl. no. 10 USA hit 'If You're Ever In My Arms Again', later Can You Stop The Rain '91 and Through The Fire '94 on Columbia. |