An Appalachian Summers Soul Balladeer Peabo Bryson Celebrates 50 Years of Music
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BOONE, NC — Appalachian State University’s annual summer arts celebration, An Appalachian Summer, presents legendary singer Peabo Bryson, Wednesday, July 16 at 7:30pm at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts, in a performance celebrating his 50 years in music. Dubbed the King of Balladeers, Bryson is a two-time Grammy-winning vocalist known for emotional soul ballads such as “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Roberta Flack. With life’s inexhaustible source of relationship woes, Bryson has been writing, producing, singing, and wooing his audiences with a timeless mix of pop, soul and R&B love songs since 1975. Tickets are $25-$55, with discounts for App State faculty/staff and local residents. To purchase, visit appsummer.org or call the box office at 828-262-4046.
“With youthful good looks and a relaxed, almost conversational vocal style,” wrote Mike Kirkeby of Rolling Stone in 1980, “Bryson is unabashedly a romantic balladeer, wooing female listeners much as R&B idols did in the fifties, but in a reverent, subtle way.” New York Times music critic Jon Pareles echoed the praise, calling Bryson the “Pavarotti of soul singers,” elaborating, “He has a cherubic presence, plenty of wholesome romantic appeal and a pure, booming tenor voice.”
App Summer, June 28-July 26, features a diverse lineup of music, dance, theatre, film and visual arts programming. This season’s artists include Amos Lee, Ranky Tanky with Ms. Lisa Fischer, Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman and Edgar Meyer, Joan Osborne and Lisa Loeb, Heather Headley with Western Piedmont Symphony, Peabo Bryson, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, The 5 Browns, as well as more music, visual arts, and international films. Visit AppSummer.org to explore the full season and purchase tickets.
Peabo Bryson Tickets
$55 Tier 1, $45 Tier 2, $35 Tier 3, $25 App State students. Discounts: 10% off Tiers 1, 2 & 3 for App State faculty/staff and local residents of Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga, and Wilkes counties. To purchase, visit appsummer.org or call the box office at 828-262-4046.
About Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson has established a career as one of the premier male vocalists in contemporary music of the last quarter century. Possessing a beautifully rich, almost operatic voice, this two-time Grammy Award winner has survived and prospered despite the passage of time and changes in popular musical trends. In 2025, Peabo Bryson celebrates 50 years in music. Viewed in touring and pop culture as one of music’s iconic vocalists, Bryson has earned two Academy Awards, two Grammy Awards, eight Grammy nominations, five gold albums, 25 top 20 singles, and six #1 singles. His latest album, Missing You, is his 20th and his first in eight years. Recorded as a tribute to his late mother and sister, the album was produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, Prince).
Bryson’s endless parade of silky-smooth hits include “Can You Stop the Rain,” “Show & Tell,” and “If Ever You’re in My Arms Again,” as well as an enviable collection of duets with some of the era’s most iconic artists: “We Kiss in the Shadows” with Lea Salonga,” “By the Time This Night Is Over” with Kenny G, “You’re Looking Like Love to Me” with Roberta Flack, “Without You” with Regina Belle, “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” with Roberta Flack, “What You Won’t Do for Love” with Natalie Cole, “Here We Go” with Minnie Riperton, “Lovers After All” with Melissa Manchester, “A Whole New World” with Regina Belle (from Disney’s Aladdin), and “Beauty & the Beast” with Celine Dion (from Disney’s Beauty & the Beast).
About Tickets for An Appalachian Summer
With ticket prices ranging from $5-$65, as well as several free events and discounts for both children, students, and App State faculty/staff, App Summer offers unique opportunities for residents and visitors to create arts experiences suited to their individual artistic tastes and budgets. Purchase in person at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts Box Office (733 Rivers St), online at AppSummer.org, or by phone at 828-262-4046.
App State Faculty/Staff: 10% off Tiers 1, 2 & 3. Contact Box Office for discount code.
Local Residents (Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Watauga, and Wilkes counties): 10% off Tiers 1, 2 & 3 for select events. Enter zip code before selecting tickets online.
About An Appalachian Summer
Presented by Appalachian State University’s Office of Arts Engagement and Cultural Resources, this annual celebration of the performing and visual arts is held every summer in venues across the university campus, and features a diverse mix of music, dance, theatre, visual arts, and film programming. An Appalachian Summer began in 1984 as a chamber music series and retains strong roots in classical music, combined with a variety of other programming geared to varied artistic tastes, preferences, and price points. The series has become one of the region’s leading arts events, attracting more than 27,000 visitors to the High Country each summer. App Summer has been named one of the “Top Twenty Events in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society.
For more information, call the Schaefer Center Box Office at 828-262-4046, visit in person at 733 Rivers Street, or explore AppSummer.org.
Corporate Sponsors
Bonnie and Jamie Schaefer, App State Campus Store, Broyhill Family Foundation, Appalachian Home Care LLC, Art Cellar Gallery, Explore Boone, Goodnight Brothers, Highstreet Insurance Partners, Mast General Store, SkyBest Communications, Creekside Electronics, Grandview Events & Catering, Peabody’s Wine & Beer Merchants, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty, Rosemyr Corporation, Courtyard by Marriott, Graystone Lodge, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Holiday Inn Express-Boone
Media Sponsors
WBTV, WCYB, PBS North Carolina, Our State Magazine, The Mountain Times, Watauga Democrat, WNC Magazine, Creative Loafing Charlotte, Yes! Weekly, Winston-Salem Journal, Greensboro News & Record, WZJS 100.7 and WATA 96.5, WHKY 1290AM and 102.3FM, WDAV 89.9FM, WFDD 88.5FM, WASU 90.5FM, and WKSK The Farm
Restaurant Sponsors
Coyote Kitchen, The Local, Lost Province, Pepper’s, and Timberlake’s Restaurant
COMPLETE 2025 SCHEDULE
Amos Lee
Saturday, June 28 at 7:30pm
Rosen-Schaffel Competition & Winner’s Recital
Sunday, June 29 at 10am & 3pm
Touch (film)
Tuesday, July 1 at 7:30pm
Summer Exhibition Celebration
Thursday, July 3 at 5pm
Celebrating Our Country and Community Through Music
Thursday, July 3 at 7:30pm
Ranky Tanky with Ms. Lisa Fischer
Sunday, July 6 at 7:30pm
Arzé (film)
Tuesday, July 8 at 7:30pm
Tessa Lark (violin), Joshua Roman (cello), and Edgar Meyer (double bass)
Wednesday, July 9 at 7:30pm
Joan Osborne & Lisa Loeb
Friday, July 11 at 7:30pm
Rosen Sculpture Walk
Saturday, July 12 at 10am
Heather Headley with Western Piedmont Symphony
Sunday, July 13 at 7:30pm
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (film)
Tuesday, July 15 at 7:30pm
Peabo Bryson
Wednesday, July 16 at 7:30pm
Alonzo King LINES Ballet: “Deep River”
Saturday, July 19 at 7:30pm
The Last Journey
Tuesday, July 22 at 7:30pm
The 5 Browns
Wednesday, July 23 at 7:30pm
Pink Martini featuring China Forbes
Saturday, July 26 at 7:30pm
ARTTALK
July 3, 9, 18 & 23
