Today we honor R&B Singer Teddy Pendergrass who died at age 59 due to a rare illness related to paralysis that surfaced in 1982 following a car accident.
Teddy Pendergrass started singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches, becoming an ordained minister at ten years old. While attending public school, he sang in the city-wide McIntyre Elementary School Choir and in the All-City Stetson Junior High School Choir. A self-taught drummer, Pendergrass had a teen pop vocal group when he was 15.
By his late teens, Pendergrass was a drummer for local vocal group the Cadillacs. In the late ’60s, the Cadillacs merged with another more-established group, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes. In 1970, when the Blue Notes broke up, Melvin, now aware of Pendergrass’ vocal prowess, asked him to take the lead singer spot. Teddy went on to receive several Grammy nominations during 1977 and 1978, -Billboard’s 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award, an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978, and awards from -Ebony magazine and the NAACP. He was also in consideration for the lead in the movie biopic The Otis Redding Story. The ’70s ended, but Pendergrass kept racking up the hits. TP, his fifth solo album, went platinum in the summer of 1980 off the singles “Turn Off the Lights,” “Come Go with Me,” “Shout and Scream,” “It’s You I Love,” and “Can’t We Try.” It’s Time for Love gave Pendergrass another gold album in summer 1981, which included the hit singles “Love TKO” and “I Can’t Live Without Your Love.”
In 1985, he made a surprise appearance at Live Aid in Philadelphia. In 1998, he released his biography ‘Truly Blessed’ and then in 2006 retired from the music industry.
Here are our favorite Top 5 Teddy Pendergrass songs:
“Love TKO”
“When Somebody Loves You Back”
“Turn Off The Lights”
“Close The Door”
“The Whole Town’s Laughing At Me”
at 2:14 pm
love TKO
at 4:19 am
R.I.P. A GOOD MAN WHO MADE GOOD MUSIC………….
at 8:54 pm
Teddy Pendergrass
Will be miss, by many, as I was one to impersonate the teddy bear, Mr. Pendergass, I was the life of the club, at times. I was able to lip sing, his songs in night clubs, and get 250 per song, its sad as to what happen to him, just bad luck, at that time, cause Teddy was a man, that women of all races, love the teddy bear, the trick who shame him, should be shame today …?
The son of a Motown singer myself, and looking like my father but people couldn’t figure who my father was, and tedddy was doing concerts in California, and all the men wanted to go but all of Mr. Pendergrass concerts was for women only, I recall men asking me if I was related and could get them in, and if not they would dress up as women to get into teddy pendergrass concerts.
Which where all sold out concerts…
People say my daddy had a nice sound like Mr. Teddy Pendergrass, his voice performance is second to known, …. sold out concert …. and all that …. for women only
I will miss the Mr. Pendergrass, and yes it feels so good to love somebody back …
From Marvin Gaye II lIMA OH
at 8:16 pm
I love all of Teddy Pendergrass aka (Teddy Bear) songs, includimg but mot limited to “Close the door”,”Come on and go with me”,Love TKO”,”The Whole Town’s laughing at me” , and lets not forget all his hits with the BlueNotes! I will miss him, though his songs will live on and on and on! RIP Teddy! I thank God that I grew up in an era where I was exposed to good music such as Teddy’s! I am an oleskool junkie and proud of it! Thanks for writing a story on Teddy P! For a change it’s nice to comment on a story that doesn’t involve everyday industry gossip and drama!
at 4:36 pm
Some of the new R&B singers need to realize that we have lost one of the all time great vocalist of our time…Before his accident he was goin to be bigger than Elvis!!! Top Knotch performer…rest in peace Teddy…
at 7:07 am
Pray for his family, I know i will. Sad to lose music great and postive African American male role model. He greatly impacted the music industry and even today you can hear his effects in music from Avant to your boy T-Pain. Come go with me should have been on this top five list though. That may have been his best song in my opinion.
-Brandon
at 3:58 am
”Woww Another One is Gone” Man This is Crazyyyy” As Hell But What Can We Do”Huhh” if it’s There Time To Go Home.. Then it’s Time To Go Home” To That Better Place” Much Love Teddy PENDERGRASS, You Will Be Miss., Ohhh By The Way Will You Tell Michael, And Gerald Levertt, And Bernie Mac, i Said What’s Up” And i Miss Them All” And Will Never Be For Gotten At All.. All Way’s In My Heart” Love”Ya” Turn Off The Light And Come Closer” Hell”Ya” That Song Was The S**t Back In The Day’s For Real.. Rip!! Love You All Ways And Amen”
at 8:03 pm
Teddy is going to turely missed! I grew up listening to TP,may he rest in peace.There will never be another likeTP!Alot of babies were made listening to great love songs.
at 12:54 pm
he may be gone but his music his will live for ever this is a great lost
and one of the greatest singers of all time, teddy rip with love
at 12:43 pm
I can’t believe our Teddy Bear is gone. I’ve been a lover of this man’s music forever and I will truly miss him as well as all of his fans. My favorite TP song is “2 AM” It’s smooth and sexy just like Teddy. My condolences go out to his family and friends and may he rest in peace.
at 9:35 am
RIP TP!!!
The one tune-although all those mentioned are great-that’s my all time favorite is “My Latest & Greatest Inspiration”! That song is one of his crowning acheivements…
at 7:51 am
I haven’t listened to Teddy in a minute. But when I see his songs on a jukebox, I will play his music. Now I got to get his CD’s. Now that I know he’s gone, I miss him. Loved some Teddy.
at 10:37 pm
I haven’t listened to Teddy in years, and now i fell like going to get my freak on to some Teddy for real
at 5:12 pm
Thanks for the memories. I’ve been playing those songs all day. They definitely take me back. RIP.
at 4:30 pm
You will be missed Teddy.Thanks for the great music and many dates that have gone smoothly for me . My mom affectionately knew you as Teddy Bear. Now you can sing to her personnally. May you rest in peace.
at 12:40 pm
Thanks for this, ABOUT ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SINGERS AND IT WAS A TRUE bLESSSING, AFTER READING ABOUT THAT FOOLISH Child calling my Girl Mary J A Bi……..h, all I could say is he must have left home without his medi……or took a hit of an illegal sub…..Oh Well Let us Pray!
at 11:26 am
Rest in peace my friend your song will be with us as years to come. I’m 39 and grew up listning to him and harold and the blue note ,there music was nothing but the true, It made you happy, made you think and also fall in love, we’re gonna deeply miss you. your’e my latest, greatest, inspiration.