Cavin Yarbrough, one-half of the R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples, has passed away. He was 72.
According to Soultracks, Yarbrough passed away due to complications from heart disease, as confirmed by his wife and music partner Alisa Peoples in a news release.
“Cavin was not only an extraordinary talent but a kind man with a great heart. His legacy will live on in the music, in our memories, and in the hearts of everyone who knew him,” Michele Elyzabeth, a longtime friend and representative of Cavin and Alisa, said in a statement.
“Cavin Yarbrough was more than a gifted vocalist and musician—he was a producer and pioneer whose artistry helped shape the sound of 1980s R&B and funk,” the statement read. “Alongside Alisa, Cavin co-founded Yarbrough & Peoples, a duo that quickly rose to fame with their 1981 #1 Billboard R&B hit, “Don’t Stop the Music.” The single, which went gold and earned them a Grammy nomination in 1982, remains a beloved staple in dance and funk music history.”
Born in Dallas, Texas, Yarbrough met Peoples as children while they were taking piano lessons and remained friends.
In mid 70’s, Yarbrough was on tour with Leon Russell’s band, whose members were the Wilson Brothers, who went on to form the Gap Band. Eventually, Wilson introduced them to Lonnie Simmons, and he signed them to his label, Total Experience Records. Shortly thereafter, Yarbrough and Peoples began playing clubs in the Los Angeels area where they relocated.
Their debut album, The Two of Us, was released in 1981 and contained the smash hit “Don’t Stop the Music.” The song peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the US Billboard R&B chart in early 1981, knocking The Gap Band’s “Burn Rubber on Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)” out of the top spot.
The duo would gon to have four more top 10 R&B hits: “Heartbeats” (R&B #10 in 1983), “Don’t Waste Your Time” (Pop #48, R&B #1 in 1984; #60 UK), “Guilty” (R&B #2 in 1986; #53 UK), and “I Wouldn’t Lie” (R&B #6 in 1986; #61 UK), After Guilty, its final album for Total Experience/RCA, Yarbrough and Peoples left the label in 1986, got married, and moved back to Dallas. They became the music directors of their home church,
In 2021, Yarbrough and Peoples were honored at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters in the Dallas Convention Center, with special tributes from the Mayor of Dallas and the State of Texas, all celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Don’t Stop The Music.”
We at WBLS extend our prayers and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Cavin Yarbrough.