Philly, the nation and the entire music industry will never forget Teddy! Read on…
It was 5 years ago, on January 13th, 2010, that we lost a true music icon, Theodore DeReese Pendergrass! Teddy was born March 26th, 1950 in Kingstree, South Carolina, but grew up in Philadelphia, PA, singing in church, playing drums and becoming an ordained minister at age 10! While attending Thomas Edison High School, Teddy sang with the Edison Mastersingers and began playing drums for several local bands. While playing drums for The Cadillacs, he was spotted by Harold Melvin and invited to play for his group, The Blue Notes.
After Harold heard Teddy singing along during a performance, he asked Teddy to sing with the group, eventually becoming the Blue Notes’ lead singer. He sang lead on the groups first major hit, “I Miss You,” which immediately took off, and led to a string of hits, including “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” “The Love I lost,” “I Hope That We Can Be Together Soon,” Wake Up Everybody,” “Bad Luck,” “Don’t Leave Me This Way” and many more.
In 1977, Teddy released his first solo album and it was ON! Teddy by then was a full fledged heart throb, loved by the ladies all across the country, as witnessed by the sold out attendance at his many “Ladies Only” concerts! Hits like The Whole Town’s Laughing At Me,” Close the Door,” Come Go With Me,” “Turn Off the Lights,” “Love TKO” and more cemented his reputation as a hitmaker and consummate live performer as well. With four platinum albums and two gold albums, Teddy was the top male artist of his day, with album sales surpassing even rivals like Marvin Gaye and Barry White; complete with the money, the high profile lifestyle, Rolls Royce, opulent mansion and legions of female (and male) fans.
Then, on March 18th, 1982, after leaving a party in Center City Philadelphia, Teddy’s Rolls hit a guardrail on Philly’s treacherously curving Lincoln Drive and crossed into the opposite lane and hit two trees. Teddy and his passenger were both injured, Teddy suffering a spinal cord injury that left him a quadraplegic, paralyzed from the waist down. Amid well wishes pouring in from his many thousands of fans, his label released more material that had been released before his accident, but it wouldn’t be until 1984 before he would record again, releasing “Love Language” that year which included “Hold Me,” a duet with then-unknown Whitney Houston. On July 13th, 1985 Teddy Pendergrass returned to the stage, performing from a wheelchair at the historic Live-Aid concert in Philadelphia, tearfully thanking his fans for their support and prayers. More albums and performances followed, with Teddy even starred opposite Stephanie Mills in a touring production of the musical “Your Arm’s Too Short to Box with God.” Teddy also released his autobiography, “Truly Blessed” and founded the Teddy Pendergrass Alliance, a foundation to aid victims of spinal cord injuries. A star-studded event “Teddy 25,” commemorating 25 years of Teddy’s life after his injury, was held at Philly’s Kimmel Center and his last public performance was at Atlantic City’s Borgata Casino in November of 2008.
In June of 2009, Teddy underwent successful surgery for colon cancer, but returned to the hospital a few weeks later with respiratory difficulties. Seven months later, Teddy Pendergrass passed away from respiratory failure on January 13th of 2010 while being treated at a Philadelphia area hospital.
A feature film of his life is being planned, to star singer and actor Tyrese Gibson. Talent, good looks, a stellar career and finally a courageous struggle all characterize the life of the unforgettable Teddy Pendergrass.
