Cavin Yarbrough, Half of Yarbrough & Peoples and Funk-R&B Icon, Dies at 72

Yarbrough & Peoples perform together onstage in Dallas. The R&B duo, best known for their 1980 No. 1 hit “Don’t Stop the Music,” remained active performers and community figures for decades. (Photo courtesy of Yarbrough & Peoples Productions)

Cavin Yarbrough, one-half of the iconic R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples and the man behind the early 1980s chart-topper "Don't Stop the Music," has died. He was 72.

His wife and longtime music partner, Alisa Peoples, confirmed his death Saturday, saying it was sudden and unexpected. "He was the love of my life, my protector," she said. "Now he’s my guardian angel."

Yarbrough passed away on June 19 from complications related to heart disease, according to Peoples.

The duo became household names after their 1980 debut single "Don't Stop the Music" topped the Billboard R&B chart and helped define the era’s funk-forward sound. Their debut album, "The Two of Us," was released the same year and propelled the Dallas-born pair into national fame. "Don't Stop the Music" remains one of the defining tracks of early '80s R&B and is still widely sampled and celebrated today.

Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Yarbrough was a classically trained pianist who first met Alisa Peoples as a child while taking piano lessons. Their shared love of music blossomed into both a personal and professional partnership. It was Gap Band frontman Charlie Wilson who introduced the duo to Lonnie Simmons, founder of Total Experience Records. The label signed Yarbrough & Peoples in the late '70s, setting the stage for their string of R&B successes.

In addition to their breakout hit, the pair recorded several other charting singles throughout the 1980s, including "Heartbeats" (No. 25, 1983), "Don’t Waste Your Time" (1984), "Be a Winner" (No. 6, 1984), "Guilty" (No. 13, 1986) and "I Wouldn’t Lie" (1986).

After leaving Total Experience in 1986, Yarbrough and Peoples married in 1987 and returned to Dallas. There, they launched their own production company, Yarbrough & Peoples Productions, and served as music directors at their church. Yarbrough also portrayed blues legend Lead Belly in the Off-Broadway musical "Blind Lemon Blues" in 2009.

Friends and fans took to social media to honor his legacy.

“So sad to learn of the passing of Cavin Yarbrough, one-half of the iconic R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples,” longtime radio personality Donnie Simpson posted. “We will remember Cavin’s legacy through timeless hits like ‘Don’t Stop the Music.’ Sending condolences to his wife, Alisa Peoples, family, friends & fans. RIP.”

"Cavin was not only an extraordinary talent, but a kind man with a great heart," said Michele Elyzabeth, the duo’s publicist for over 40 years. "His legacy will live on in the music, in our memories, and in the hearts of everyone who knew him."

At a time when funk and romance ruled Black radio, Yarbrough & Peoples found the perfect groove. And with Cavin now gone, the beat he helped create lives on.