‘All Peabo Bryson wanted was some Jamaican jerk chicken’ - June Isaacs remembers singer’s performance at Red Rose for Gregory

Following Tuesday’s passing of R&B legend and two-time Grammy Award-winning singer Peabo Bryson, entertainers across the globe and civic leaders have shared tributes acknowledging his unmatched legacy. The legendary voice on two Oscar-winning Disney film duets –  Beauty and the Beast with Celine Dion and A Whole New World with Regina Belle from Aladdin,  –   Bryson passed away in hospital in Atlanta a few days after having a stroke. He was 75.

During his career, Peabo Bryson gave memorable performances in Jamaica, with the last time being February 2019 at Red Rose for Gregory, a collaborative effort organised by the Gregory Isaacs Foundation; event partner, Robert Minott; Lenworth ‘DJ Squeeze’ Samuels, as head of production; and Tracy Hamilton as project manager. Foundation chair, June Isaacs, the widow of Gregory, shared with The Gleaner that Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle concert was one of her “best shows ever”.

“ I remember meeting him at the airport and he said to me very politely, ‘Please allow me to smoke a cigarette’. He was no problem … he was cooperative and acted very normally … not like a superstar or anything. All he wanted was some Jamaican jerk chicken and when he got it he loved it. I had to get jerk chicken for him two more times after that,” Isaacs recalled.

She described him as “ an exceptionally affable and consummate professional”.

 “He was easy to work with … gracious. calm and never demanding. He took great care to ensure that his performance was engaging and interactive, creating a memorable experience for the audience through his genuine connection and crowd participation.” Isaacs told The Gleaner. “Peabo had a deep appreciation for Jamaica and Jamaica in turn embraced him.”

She also has treasured memories of Bryson performing at the concert.

“I remember seeing Beres Hammond at the side of the stage … and the expression on Beres’ face! He was so satisfied. Our deputy mayor at the time, Robert Hill, was there and also one of our past prime ministers, Portia Simpson Miller, as well as her husband… cheering on Peabo and Regina Belle. Even a couple got engaged on stage. They were at the front and Peabo called them up. The guy popped the ring out on stage … it was just love, love, love.”

Isaacs said she was shocked to hear of his passing.

“He was an artiste who was on our list as a possible repeat performer for the next staging of Red Rose for Gregory, or any concert of that caliber. Condolences to his family. His death is a great loss to the music industry,” Isaacs said.

Part proceeds of Red Rose for Gregory always goes to the Patricia House drug rehabilitation centre in Kingston and, in an interview with The Gleaner in 2019, Bryson also shared his support of the concert’s cause.

“I don’t do it [drugs] but I’ve been around it my entire life and career, so I understand it. I’ve had family members who really needed that help, so it’s personal to me in that way. In my field of art, it has always been an issue, and I think it’s because most artistes want a little bit of relief. All Elvis Presley wanted was 10 hours of sleep, so did Michael Jackson – uninterrupted sleep. It’s hard to turn off and come down, so you end up needing help doing it. There’s also yoga, meditation, zen. There are a number of things you can do that don’t have anything to do with drugs, but I’m happy to be a part of anything that provides a system for everyone that needs help,” Bryson said.

TRIBUTES

Bryson’s musical friends have been sharing their tributes on social media.  Celine Dion wrote on X: “I’m heartbroken to hear that we lost Peabo Bryson today.  His incredible voice and his kind spirit embodied the beauty of song and performance.  He was so wonderful and generous to me all those years ago, when we recorded Beauty and the Beast. He made me so comfortable, as I was just learning to sing in English.  He will remain for me always as a real symbol of the joy that music has brought to my life. His voice and his talent will be missed.”

 Singer Kenny Lattimore hailed him as “one of the greatest voices our genre has ever known”. 

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, in leading civic tributes, noted that "Peabo's extraordinary talent, timeless artistry and unmistakable voice provided the soundtrack to some of life's most cherished moments” and that “his career was deeply connected to this city, where his artistry flourished and where he helped shape Atlanta's rich musical legacy, creativity and culture.”

His family said in a statement that Bryson died days after having a stroke and asked for privacy in this difficult time. He is survived by his widow Tanya Bonaface Bryson, and his two children. 

The singer launched his professional career after leaving high school, and released his first album, Peabo, in 1976. He signed with Capitol Records a year later, and then moved to Elektra Records and later moved back to Capitol, and released more than 20 albums. During hiscareer, he received multiple Grammy nominations, winning two  – the  first with Céline Dion in 1993 for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Group or Duo for Beauty and the Beast and the same award in 1984 alongside Regina Belle, for Aladdin. 

yasmine.peru@gleanerjm.com