A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF NORTH ACADEMY STREET IN THE CITY OF GREENVILLE FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH EAST NORTH STREET TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH NORTH MAIN STREET “ROBERT PEABO BRYSON BOULEVARD” AND ERECT APPROPRIATE MARKERS OR SIGNS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY CONTAINING THIS DESIGNATION. Whereas, born in Greenville on April 13, 1951, Robert Peabo Bryson has become a singer, composer, producer, and accomplished entertainer of the highest caliber and personal achievement. This musical ambassador of goodwill has taken his soulful sounds to more than seventy nations around the world, and as one of the premier male vocalists of contemporary music of the last quarter century, he has scored and performed more than ten numberone hit recordings in both the rhythm and blues and pop crossover categories, reaching gold on twelve occasions; and Whereas, in addition, with twenty albums to his credit, Peabo Bryson owns the distinction of being the first artist in music history to have separate records topping four different charts; and Whereas, in his growingup years, Peabo’s musical gifts were nurtured by a loving grandmother and mother, who exposed him to the many musical legends who passed through the family farm near Mauldin, stars such as Sam Cooke, Little Richard, and Billie Holiday. Peabo praises his grandmother and mom for teaching him “to work and work hard”; and Whereas, at age fourteen, Peabo began singing as a star of the traveling revue Al Freeman & the Upsetters. Two years later in
1968, he left home to tour the nowfamous Southern “chitlin’ circuit” with another local band, Moses Dillard and the TexTown Display, with whom he gained the experience that would help prepare him for a solid career as a recording artist and entertainer; and Whereas, during the course of his career, Peabo’s rich, almost operatic voice has earned him many accolades, among them two Grammy awards: the first for his work in Disney’s Oscarwinning “Best Picture” theme song, “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), with international pop singer Celine Dion; the second for “A Whole New World,” the theme song from Aladdin, with Regina Belle (1992); and Whereas, a man’s gifts make room for him, and Peabo’s gifts found a place for him in the theater world, as well. As an actor, he appeared in the lead role for the touring production of the Tony Awardwinning musical Raisin and in the role of the wizard in a touring company of another famed musical, The Wiz. In 1998, he appeared in the Michigan Opera Theater’s production of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess; and Whereas, an avid golfer, Peabo will never turn down a chance to “hit a few balls,” and he has participated in numerous tournaments. To his family, he is simply a big brother, dedicated father, and “PopPop, handsome singer of love ballads”; and Whereas, Peabo Bryson offers a timeless mix of pop and soul as only he can. He has amassed a loyal fan base, critical acclaim, and an avalanche of awards as one of the truly best friends a song could ever have. Appreciatively, the members of the General Assembly take great pleasure in celebrating the achievements of the legendary Peabo Bryson, one of South Carolina’s own, and believe it would be fitting and proper to dedicate a portion of North Academy Street in the City of Greenville in his honor. Now, therefore, Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring: That the South Carolina General Assembly request the Department of Transportation name the portion of North Academy Street in the City of Greenville from its intersection with East North Street to its