Don Bryant, the Memphis soul veteran known for co-writing the hit 'I Can't Stand the Rain' with his wife Ann Peebles, has died at age 83. His family announced the news on December 26, the day after Christmas. Bryant left a lasting legacy in soul music through his songwriting and late-career solo albums.
Don Bryant, a key figure in Memphis soul, passed away on December 26 at the age of 83, as confirmed by his family via Instagram. The statement read: “Don loved sharing his music and songs with all of you and it gave him such great joy to perform and record new music. He was so appreciative of everyone who was part of his musical journey and who supported him along the way.”
Bryant began his career as a solo artist in the 1960s, releasing his only album at the time, Precious Soul, in 1969. In the 1970s, he shifted focus to songwriting at Hi Records, a label that featured artists like Al Green and O.V. Wright. Reflecting on this transition, Bryant said in a 2017 Rolling Stone interview: “I wanted to be a part of it. If it wasn’t gonna be the singing, I was content with trying to do the writing.”
He contributed to hundreds of songs recorded by performers including Solomon Burke, Etta James, Otis Clay, and Albert King. Bryant's most famous works were for his wife, Hi Records singer Ann Peebles, notably “99 Pounds” and the 1973 Grammy-nominated track “I Can’t Stand the Rain.” The latter's title stemmed from Peebles' remark during a heavy rainstorm. As Bryant explained: “At the time, there were a lot of records about the rain, but everyone was wanting the rain, trying to hide their tears.” The song reached number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 and inspired covers by Tina Turner, Seal, Missy Elliott, and Kaytranada.
After Peebles suffered a stroke in 2012 and retired from performing, Bryant resumed his solo career with her support. He released Don’t Give Up on Love in 2017 and You Make Me Feel in 2020, both critically praised. In 2020, he shared: “Music is one of my greatest loves. When I can concentrate on that, I can take my mind off everything else.”
Bryant's contributions helped shape the soul genre, blending personal storytelling with emotional depth.
