Don Bryant Dies: Soul Singer-Songwriter And 'I Cant Stand The Rain' Writer Was 83

Legendary Memphis soul singer and songwriter Don Bryant has died at age 83. John Doyle, executive director at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum, said Bryant was one of the greatest songwriters to come out of Memphis.

“Our museums should put his name on some songwriter programming that really reaches kids and not only teaches them how to play guitar or how to sing into a microphone, but how to write great songs,” Doyle said, according to WREG.

What inspired Don Bryant to write ‘I Can’t Stand the Rain’?

The Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum features images of Bryant along with his wife Ann Peebles, who co-wrote the 1973 hit song “I Can’t Stand the Rain.” Rolling Stone described the song as one of the greatest tracks ever written.

“They were waiting for the rain to subside and Ann Peebles said ‘I can’t stand the rain’ and Don immediately being the songwriter that he was, pulled out a piece of paper and started writing the lyrics for that song,” Doyle said, per WREG.

The song also received high praise from the late John Lennon: “It became one of the biggest songs to ever come out of Hi Records and one of the biggest songs to ever come out of Memphis. John Lennon when he was in concert in Los Angeles, he showed up in the audience. John Lennon made the comment that ‘I Can’t Stand the Rain’ is perhaps the best song he had ever heard,’” Doyle said.

Don Bryant was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame

With over 150 songs written for Hi Records, Bryant is remembered as an iconic artist who laid the foundation for countless legends.

“Memphis is a city of singers, everybody in the whole planet knows Elvis and Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, but someone like Don Bryant really laid the groundwork for what soul music is about,” Doyle said.

In 2019, Bryant was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. He was also nominated for a Grammy in 2020, gaining recognition for his blues album You Make Me Feel.

“Don loved sharing his music and songs with all of you and it gave him such great joy to perform and record new music. He was so appreciative of everyone who was part of his musical journey and who supported him along the way,” Bryant’s loved ones said in a Facebook statement, according to WREG.