Teddy Pendergrass American rhythm and blues and soul singer and musician Date of Birth: 26.03.1950 Country: USA

1. Teddy Pendergrass: An American Rhythm & Blues and Soul Icon
2. Early Career with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
3. Solo Success and Beyond
4. A Continuing Legacy
5. A Personal Life and Legacy

Teddy Pendergrass: An American Rhythm & Blues and Soul Icon

Teddy Pendergrass, an American rhythm & blues and soul performer and musician, first experienced fame as the lead vocalist of one of the most popular soul groups of the 1970s, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, before embarking on a successful solo career in the late 1970s. Theodore DeReese "Teddy" Pendergrass was born on March 26, 1950, in Kingstree, South Carolina, USA. He was the son of Jesse Pendergrass and Ida Geraldine Epps. In 1962, Jesse was killed, and a year later, the Pendergrass family relocated to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Teddy attended the now-closed Thomas Edison High School for Boys. He sang in the school's Meistersingers until the 11th grade, when he entered the music business.

Early Career with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes

Teddy's professional career began as a drummer for the group "The Cadillacs," which soon merged with the collective "Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes." Harold Melvin invited Pendergrass to take on the role of lead vocalist, and a few months later, the group signed a contract with the label "Philadelphia International Records" in 1972. The group, now known as "The Blue Notes," was responsible for hits such as "I Miss You," "Bad Luck," "Wake Up Everybody," the two million-selling "If You Don't Know Me by Now," and many others. Due to a conflict between Pendergrass and Melvin, the Kingstree native embarked on a solo career and released popular singles such as "The More I Get the More I Want," "Close the Door," "I Don't Love You Anymore," and more.

Solo Success and Beyond

Teddy released his first solo album, simply titled "Teddy Pendergrass," in 1977, followed by releases such as "Life is a Song Worth Singing," "Live Coast to Coast and Teddy," "TP," and "It's Time for Love." Alongside Whitney Houston, the American musician recorded the duet "Hold Me," which was featured on her debut album. In 1982, Pendergrass was seriously injured in a car accident in Philadelphia, resulting in him being paralyzed from the waist down. Teddy's passenger, a transgender performer from the nightclub scene named Tenika Watson, whom the singer had accidentally met, suffered minor injuries, while Pendergrass sustained spinal cord damage. Following such a serious ordeal, the "Teddy Pendergrass Alliance" was created to assist those who have experienced spinal cord injuries. Recovering from the accident, Teddy released the album "Heaven Only Knows" in 1983, which featured his last works written before the accident.

A Continuing Legacy

Ten years after the fateful crash, Pendergrass recorded a version of the song "One Shining Moment" for the March Madness basketball games on CBS. After receiving treatment, Teddy returned to the studio and recorded the album "Love Language," which included the ballad "Hold Me" with the then-unknown Whitney Houston. He also returned to the stage, performing on June 13, 1985, at the historic "Live Aid" concert in Philadelphia, and continued to record his compositions in the 1980s and 1990s. Pendergrass released his autobiography, "Truly Blessed," in 1998. In 2006, the musician announced his retirement from the music industry. He briefly returned in 2007 to be the main participant in the event "Teddy 25: A Celebration of Life, Hope & Possibilities," dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the accident. The event helped raise funds for his "Teddy Pendergrass Alliance," and Teddy expressed his gratitude and honored all those who had helped him since the accident.

A Personal Life and Legacy

Teddy Pendergrass had several children from different women. In 1987, he married former dancer Karen. Although they later divorced by mutual agreement, Karen remained his caregiver. Teddy was also married to a woman named Joan. In 2009, the musician underwent surgery for colon cancer, which ultimately caused his passing on January 12, 2010, at the age of 59. He left behind a son, Teddy Pendergrass II, and two daughters.