About This Video
Peabo Bryson was more than the voice behind “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World.” He was a complete R&B artist, songwriter, and vocalist whose career tells a much bigger story about talent, ownership, publishing, taxes, crossover success, and how the music industry treats legacy artists. In this 30 Plus Years In feature, brought to you by RadioFacts.com, we look beyond the Disney headlines and revisit Peabo Bryson’s journey from Greenville, South Carolina, to Bang Records, Capitol Records, Disney, Grammy wins, IRS troubles, health battles, and the larger business lesson behind his catalog.
00:00 Peabo Bryson Beyond the Disney Headlines
01:10 Greenville, South Carolina and His Early Years
02:20 Bang Records and the First Music Business Lesson
03:45 Capitol Records and His Gold Al
Background & Context
As an industry insider, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of Peabo Bryson’s career, a journey that goes beyond his Disney hits. Many know him for ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘A Whole New World,’ but this man is a complete R&B artist, a prolific songwriter who made his mark in the industry. We’ll explore his journey, from his humble beginnings in South Carolina to his success with Bang Records and Capitol Records. This is a story that delves into the reality of talent, ownership, publishing, and the harsh treatment of legacy artists in our industry.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the full scope of Peabo Bryson’s career
- The importance of talent and ownership in the music industry
- The harsh reality of how the music industry treats legacy artists
- Lessons from Peabo Bryson’s journey and his crossover success
- Insights into the complexities of publishing and taxes in the music industry
About Kevin Ross
Kevin Ross is a music and broadcast industry veteran with more than
30 years of firsthand experience spanning radio programming, on-air
talent, record promotion, voice work, publishing, and digital media.
He has worked every side of the business — from the air studio to
the boardroom — and built one of the longest-running digital platforms
dedicated to Black radio and music industry coverage.
30 Plus Years In is where that experience lives on video.
