Days of Our Lives’ Peter Reckell Mourns Peabo Bryson, Voice Behind Bo & Hope Love Song
Legendary singer/songwriter Peabo Bryson, who passed away on June 2, 2026, after suffering a stroke, left an indelible mark on the world of soaps during daytime’s 1980s heyday. To Days of Our Lives fans, he will always be remembered for his 1983 duet with Roberta Flack, “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love for You,” which became the love theme for the iconic supercouple Bo Brady (Peter Reckell) and Hope Williams Brady (Kristian Alfonso).
Peter Reckell Pays Homage
The song was first used on DAYS the same year it was released — which was also the same year that Bo and Hope’s epic romance kicked off. The song became so identified with the duo that when their portrayers, Alfonso and Reckell, traveled to New Orleans in 1984 for the memorable location shoot that featured their characters making love for the first time, it followed them there. In a joint interview with Soap Opera Digest in 2004, Alfonso recalled, “We had just landed in New Orleans and they told us to wait. I’m usually the first one to take the luggage and get off the plane. And I remember hearing: ‘Tonight … I Celebrate My Love.’ And saying, ‘Hey Pete, listen! They’re playing our song!’ But it was a huge band outside the plane in the terminal and there were thousands and thousands of people.” “That was wild,” Reckell marveled in response.
DAYS used the song for milestone Bo and Hope moments many times over the decades, and in 2022, when Bo and Hope were reunited in heaven (Bo was presumed dead at the time) and shared a tender dance, fans cheered when “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” played during the emotional moment.
When the news of Bryson’s passing broke online, Reckell posted on X (formerly Twitter) to pay homage. “They say a song can immediately bring you back to emotions and memories,” he wrote. “‘Celebrate my love’ does exactly that! So sorry to hear [of] the loss of Peabo Bryson. Love and support goes out to family and friends!”
Bryson’s impact on daytime was not limited to DAYS. Another one of his hit songs, “Whenever You’re in My Arms Again,” was used by another NBC sudser, Santa Barbara, as the love theme for young lovers Kelly Capwell (Robin Wright) and Joe Perkins (Dane Witherspoon), whose romance kicked off in 1984. From 1985 until 1991, his voice was heard daily on One Life to Live, singing the theme song in the opening credits, and he even appeared on the show in September 1985 to perform it. Bryson went on to make a 1991 appearance on All My Children, singing “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love” with Tonya Pinkins, who played Livia Frye, at the wedding reception after Livia’s nuptials to Tom Cudahy (Richard Shoberg).
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