Teddy Pendergrass Dies at 59

Teddy Pendergrass, the former lead singer of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes and one of most electric and iconic singers to emerge in the early R&B and disco era, has died of colon cancer. Pendergrass was only 59 years old.

Pendergrass' son, Teddy Pendergrass II, told the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper that his father died on Wednesday at a Philadelphia-area hospital. He had undergone colon cancer surgery eight months ago and his son said he had a difficult recovery. Pendergrass began his career as a drummer but first rose to fame in the 1970s when he became lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, which had hits such as "If You Don't Know Me by Now" and "I Miss You." After leaving the Blue Notes for a solo career, he had a string of hit love ballads that were considered musical aphrodisiacs by his fans. His solo hits, notable for his smooth baritone and sensual delivery, included "I Don't Love You Anymore," "Close the Door," "Turn off the Lights" and "Love TKO."

Pendergrass crashed his Rolls-Royce in Philadelphia in 1982 and was left paralyzed from the waist down. He resumed his recording career the next year with the album "Love Language" and returned to the stage by performing from his wheelchair at the Live Aid concert in 1985.

The passenger in the car crash, Tenika Watson, was relatively unhurt. Watson turned out to be a well-known Philadelphia transgender nightclub performer. Pendergrass would only say that Watson was a "casual acquaintance" whom he was giving a ride home. Pendergrass refused to discuss the circumstances of the accident beyond that.

Pendergrass' powerful voice, sensual baritone and raw emotion were among the signatures of the so-called "Philly Sound" and Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff's Philadelphia International Records. His early work with Harold Melvin & Blue Notes, such as "The Love I Lost", "Bad Luck" and the brilliant cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way" defined gay dance music in the 1970s and 1980s. They were also the backbone of the black, gay Chicago- and New York- inspired "house" aesthetic that has gradually re-defined dance music across the world.

In the spring of 2008, Chicago's Black Ensemble Theater debuted "I Am Who I Am: The Story of Teddy Pendergrass". The last half of the play concentrated on the accident, Teddy's post-accident career and questions about his sexuality. Speaking to a reporter at the Chicago Free Press, the LGBT weekly, Pendergrass refused to discuss the production and claimed he was unaware of music's impact on the gay community. Said Pendergrass: "My music appeals to everybody. No, I don’t keep a running list of who listens and who doesn’t. That’s not my job."

So many songs, so many memories, especially on the dance floors at 7am when the electric "Bad Luck" was often the last call song and the reverb was through the roof. The last two minutes of that track still send chills through my body. That and more of Teddy's best WHEN YOU JUMP ...

Comments

[Face and Waist]

Teddy's music was just absolutely incredible. I grew up with and it has given me so much joy. And I almost totally forgot about what happened in that car crash. That was a different time, people heard about it but didnt say much.

RIP Teddy

[QH]

While I didn't follow Mr. Pendergrass intently, I always respected him & his contributions to music, this is extremely sad to hear. I'm surprised, I knew he had had complications from his '82 stage accident, but I didn't know he had cancer.

My Dad is only seven years younger, so this made me really think how young Mr. Pendergrass was. My prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans.-QH

[VJ]

My parents loved Teddy and I grew up listening to that beautiful voice. I still swoon when I hear Love TKO. I also remember being a little boy and watching him on tv. I was too young to realize why I loved watching him, but I knew I really really enjoyed watching him. Of course I know why now. Even at around 8 years old, I knew he was sexy as hell.

[Corey]

Another Love T.K.O.!

Words cannot express what that man's voice still does to me after so many years! All those great songs and sweeping Gamble & Huff arrangements still turn me inside out! I still listen to Teddy on the regular, and to say that he was one of my favorite male singers is an understatement. Our great female singers are known for singing from the heart & soul with great emotion, while most of our brothas were often restrained. But, Teddy wasn't afraid to lay it on the line and let it rip, and for that, I will always love him! His whole catalogue should be required listening for all these young boys TRYING to sing! Teddy Pendergrass was and is still the TRUTH!

Turn Out The Lights and Close The Door: R.I.P. Teddy Bear!

[CC]

He will be greatly missed by all

[CC]

Unlike the songs of many of today’s male R&B crooners, Pendergrass’ music bordered on eroticism without explicit lyrics or coarse language — just through the raw emotion in his voice.

[Derrick from Philly]

I guess he was to Philadelphia, what Marvin Gaye & Smokey Robinson were to Detroit, what Sam Cooke and Lou Rawls were to Chicago, what Otis Reading was to the whole state of Georgia. He was ours...of course, we shared.

[Steve]

What a voice. Am loving listening to Philly radio today with extended sets of his great music. R.I.P.

[robert]

a male R/B singer that could actually sing..can you imagine any singer today having the chops to replicate any of his song??

[Honut Sinti]

Teddy was a fabulous singer. RIP.

@ Robert: The only young singer that I think can approximate Teddy's talent is Johnny Gill. Yet, we haven't heard any music from Johnny in a while.

[kevjack]

Teddy, you will certainly be missed. A master of muscular R&B...they don't make 'em like you anymore...

[Dluv]

My god, check this out:

[nahtans]

Ive been you tubing him continously ...have to find my greatest hits album as well. He was so sexy and his music ...no words