DALLAS — A celebration of life for Cavin Yarbrough, co-founder of the R&B duo Yarbrough & Peoples, best known for their ’80s hit “Don’t Stop the Music,” is set for next week.
Cavin died June 19 at the age of 72 of complications from heart disease, according to a post from his longtime representative on social media. A celebration of life is set for 11 a.m. Monday at the Black Academy of Arts and Letters within the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, according to his obituary.
“He was the love of my life, my protector. Now he’s my guardian angel,” Cavin’s wife and musical collaborator Alisa said in a statement.
Cavin, a Dallas native, was a classically trained pianist and met his musical partner and wife, Alisa, when they were taking piano lessons as youngsters. They went on to form Yarbrough & Peoples.
The duo was discovered by Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band, who brought them to the attention of record producer Lonnie Simmons, who signed them to his Total Experience Records.
They’re best known for their dance/funk crossover song “Don’t Stop Their Music,” which was released in 1980 as part of their debut album “The Two of Us.”
“Don’t Stop The Music” spent five weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after its release, and earned the couple their first Grammy Award nomination in 1982. It’s gone on to be sampled by various artists, such as Common and Eve.
Their debut album also reached No. 1 for two weeks on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and No. 16 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.
The duo’s other hits throughout their career include “Don’t Waste Your Time,” “Heartbeats,” “Guilty” and “I Wouldn’t Lie.”
“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,” said Cavin’s representative of more than 40 years, Michele Elyzabeth.